A VISION for the future of Atherton has been published on Wigan Council's website and it is hoped it will put the town on the map and attract investment to make the plans a reality.

The Plan for Atherton includes seven objectives to improve the town such as strengthening local businesses and improving the street scene.

The masterplan was approved by the council at the end of August.

Atherleigh Labour councillor John Harding says the plan will allow the town's aspirations to be seen "nationally and internationally".

He welcomes the plans and its proposals to develop business space and homes in Atherton.

Cllr Harding said: "Atherton is ideally placed and has good transport links such as two railway stations, access to the guided busway and is close to the M61.

"We do not want Atherton to be a small dormitory town.

"We want it to be proactive town where people want to visit."

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Mr Harding also hopes money will be set aside from the council to support the plan.

Atherton councillor Stuart Gerrard has greeted the proposals as well.

The independent representative lodged a motion at the full council meeting in September 2018 asking for a pot of money to be set aside to invest in Atherton.

This followed previous discussions with councillors and the local authority about money being made available for the town.

But the motion was turned down and dismissed as "unnecessary" by the leading Labour group, which said the masterplan was being prepared to boost the town instead.

Cllr Gerrard added: "The plan will promote Atherton and hopefully allow it to fulfil its potential.

"What we need is investment to kickstart the town."

Meanwhile the councillor is working on other schemes such as implementing a running track at Atherton Park and introducing street furniture in the town centre such as benches.

Opening a community store, improving shop frontage, cleaning the streets and helping to report crime are other priorities he is working on.

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Atherton Park

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Wigan Council leader, Cllr David Molyneux, said: “We’re committed to supporting the regeneration and development of all our centres across the borough and are pleased to see the plan for Atherton progressing.

"We recognise that each town has its own identity, opportunities and faces its own challenges.

"It is hoped the masterplan will establish an investment framework, increasing opportunities for investment and promoting the town to developers, and feed into local planning policy.”