LENDF
Lowton Neighbourhood Development Forum (LENDF) is a friendly, non-political community group for residents and businesses in the Lowton East electoral ward of the Borough of Wigan. It brings people together to discuss local issues, share information and find practical ways to improve the area.
Working together to make a difference in Lowton
For a number of years, Lowton Community Hub has supported LENDF’s work by providing a place to connect, share information and bring people together around local issues and community activity. We work alongside LENDF to help strengthen local networks and support activity that benefits the wider Lowton community.
LENDF meets bi-monthly at Lowton Social Club, Newton Road, Lowton (not at the Hub). Meetings run from 7.30pm to approximately 9.30pm. Everyone is welcome: the public, residents groups, local councillors, and the police.
Contacts
Chair: Graham Wardle
Secretary: Liz Brown
Social Secretary: Kath Houlton
Treasurer: Irene Thomson
Minutes Secretary: Margaret Mitchell
Email: lendf99@gmail.com
LENDF Meeting updates
Keep up to date with the latest discussions and decisions from LENDF meetings. We share meeting notes and minutes here so local residents, community groups and organisations can easily see what’s been discussed and follow the issues that matter to Lowton.
August 2026 meeting
Residents heard a detailed traffic update covering speed data across Lowton and Golborne, with particular concern about Sandy Lane and congestion at Lane Head. Liz Brown reported that work has started on reinstating Golborne Station, with buses and parking arrangements discussed for when it opens. Councillors updated on the Wigan Local Plan — with welcome news that land west of Winwick Lane and behind Moss Industrial Estate had been put back into the green belt in the draft — and Irene Thomson gave a talk from Lowton Hedgehog Rescue.
June 2026 meeting
Mark Foster from the RSPCA spoke about consultation plans for Mossley Hall Farm and answered residents’ questions. The meeting heard feedback from the May Fun Day across the Social Club, Oaklands Park and Lowton Community Hub, and welcomed Kath Houlton and Julie Shawcross back onto the committee. Security at Oaklands Park was discussed after travellers broke through the gate lock in May, and councillors updated on a proposed Church Lane crossing and other local traffic works.
AGM April 2026
The AGM re-elected Graham Wardle, Irene Thomson, Liz Brown and Margaret Mitchell to their committee roles. Graham presented traffic and Community Speed Watch updates, including Sandy Lane speeding and road overcapacity concerns linked to Tritax and Rowland Homes. Plans for the May Sunday Funday were shared, and building updates covered Tritax’s SRFI proposals and the Rowan Avenue housing application, with residents’ objections and planning-portal difficulties noted.
February 2026 meeting
Planning dominated the evening: Culcheth’s Sainsbury’s flats refusal and a fifth application; Pocket Nook’s road onto Atherleigh Way still going ahead; Rowland Homes’ Rowan Avenue plans rising to 91 homes; Tritax’s SRFI after 900+ objections; and a proposed biogas plant near J22. Graham and Kath updated on Community Speed Watch, traffic surgeries at St Mary’s, and Sandy Lane speeding. Plans for a May Fun Day and the national Big Plastic Count were also shared.
June 2025 meeting
Liz Brown walked the meeting through Wigan’s draft Local Plan, urging residents to comment by 24 June on proposals to take green-belt land for industrial use at Moss Industrial Estate and west of Winwick Lane. Councillors’ business and plans for an Oaklands Park official opening event on 31 August were discussed. Other updates included Braithwaite noticeboard locks, A580 left-turn works at Lane Head, and an invitation to view the Social Club’s new darts room.
AGM April 2025
The AGM confirmed the committee and welcomed Kath Houlton as Social Secretary and Margaret Mitchell as Minutes Secretary. Luke Brown explained demolition of the old pensioners’ hut and plans for a community pizzeria at Lowton Community Hub, while James Ridyard updated on Civic Field car-park and path improvements for East Leigh AFC. Love Lowton litter picking, a telecom mast near Garton Drive, Parkside Tritax, and the forthcoming Wigan Local Plan consultation were also covered.
December 2024 meeting
Police Inspector Mike Crosthwaite spoke about local policing, off-road bikes and quads, Bee in the Loop alerts, and crime surgeries. A Service to the Community tankard was presented, and councillors updated on buses, surgeries and Lane Head road works. A detailed Parkside Tritax update followed, covering freight interchange plans, Winwick Lane traffic and the need for a bypass, before a Christmas raffle rounded off the evening.
October 2024 meeting
United Utilities staff answered residents’ questions on storm overflows, water pressure, discolouration and how new housing affects the network, urging comments on water in planning applications. Councillors reported Brighter Borough spending and the forthcoming Our Town event. Pond Street park reopening and completed Oaklands Park plans were welcomed, alongside concerns about yellow lines, cashless parking and a possible Kenyon Lane traveller site.
August 2024 meeting
Dr Neeta James from Braithwaite Road Surgery took a lively Q&A on appointments, prescriptions, COVID vaccination and the myGP app. Police and Community Speed Watch updates followed, with LaGTAC speed data shared. Parkside Phases 1–3 and Tritax consultation were discussed, alongside Pond Street park renovation, McColl’s car-park potholes, and changes to Brighter Borough funding arrangements.
June 2024 meeting
The Culcheth Fly and Odour Action Group described ongoing smells and black flies linked to Diggle Green and asked residents to press Wigan Environmental Health and the Environment Agency. James Ridyard updated on East Leigh AFC’s growth and Hesketh Meadow improvements. Community Speed Watch recruitment and Sandy Lane results were reported, questions for a future GP session were invited, and play-area plans for Pond Street and Winton Road were noted.
April 2024 meeting
Luke Brown updated on Lowton Community Hub and café next to the J&I school. Graham Wardle covered traffic, infrastructure and housing, including Pocket Nook Lane development. Planned double yellow lines on Sandy Lane and Tarnway, sewage and flooding concerns, defibrillator upkeep, and a run of local updates from fire-station procedures to Oaklands trees and Church Lane crossing were discussed.
AGM February 2024
The AGM elected Graham Wardle as Chair and confirmed the wider committee, with a finance report covering Brighter Borough funding processed for local projects. Martin Smith from Corporate Land Management discussed Oaklands Road and Pond Street park refurbishment plans with residents. Liz Brown presented on litter picking, and AOB included a stolen Slag Lane defibrillator and Leigh Fire Station concerns.
December 2023 meeting
Updates covered local issues before a police message aimed at children, schools and parents. The Wigan Local Plan and transport matters — including Lane Head and bypass aspirations — were discussed. AOB ranged from a new defibrillator near Garton Drive and Oaklands park misuse to flooding, Pocket Nook housing and other building pressures affecting Lowton traffic.
October 2023 meeting
Local updates were followed by discussion of the Wigan Local Plan. Linda Graham spoke about Byrom Hall Wood, and transport and water quality issues were raised with councillors and MP James Grundy. Residents were encouraged to pool concerns with Lowton East councillors and community groups.
August 2023 meeting
Business ranged from graffiti and a Church Lane crossing for St Luke’s to woodland near St Catherine’s, Foilco at Lowton Business Park, and Pocket Nook housing. Places for Everyone, Lane Head service-road alterations, potholes, traffic-speed monitoring volunteers, the Atherleigh bypass extension and a Murphy’s application in Golborne and Lowton West were also covered.
June 2023 meeting
Wigan Council staff gave a recycling talk. Thanks were recorded to past and current councillors, and strong concern was voiced about S106 money being used for Lane Head road changes residents saw as inappropriate. Updates included the Braithwaite Road mast, Places for Everyone options, and congratulations to Lowton High School on an outstanding Ofsted.
April 2023 meeting
An information update on 5G telecommunication masts opened the meeting. Further updates covered litter picking near St Catherine’s, flower planting, Lane Head S106 traffic works and a postponed Slag Lane gas-main scheme. Upcoming Coronation events in May were flagged for the community.
February 2023 meeting
Professor Graham Wardle presented speed-gun data and traffic concerns at Lane Head, alongside air-quality information from LHSRG. Linda Graham fed back from a Golborne Station plans meeting, covering location, platforms and masterplan work. Bridleway and litter-pick items, Byrom Hall Wood volunteering, Culcheth car-park flats and other local planning points featured in AOB.
December 2022 meeting
Updates included bulb planting, parks resurfacing and East Leigh Junior Football Club. Much of the meeting focused on the proposed A580 left turn onto Newton Road, S106 spend, bypass options and meetings with Andy Burnham and James Grundy MP. Black mould in council homes and a short talk on reducing pollution were also discussed.
November 2022 meeting
Progress notes covered crocus planting, storm-grid cleaning and thanks to helpers at the Social Club. The A580/Newton Road left turn was debated ahead of a further meeting. James Ridyard presented East Leigh Junior Football Club’s clubhouse plans, funding aspirations and longer-term pitch ideas.
October 2022 meeting
Julie Shawcross outlined how community groups can access funding, warm hubs and related support. Pennington Flash’s place within Greater Manchester’s first National Nature Reserve was explained. Progress and AOB covered the St Luke’s lollipop person, East Leigh Football Club and Oaklands Road Community Garden.
September 2022 meeting
Progress ranged from a noisy Hesketh Meadow grid and East Leigh parking to Redrow building, S106 monies, HGV restrictions and Newton Road resurfacing. A defibrillator at Lowton Social Club was noted as installed with LENDF support. Further items included bulb planting, Last Night of the Proms, Diggle Green flies, dangerous parking and local speeding concerns.
August 2022 meeting
Section 106 monies and how they should support Lowton infrastructure — including Lane Head — were the main focus, with local groups urged to work together. Action points covered the Hesketh Meadow grid, FOI requests, Newton Road closures, builder deliveries, Bellway Homes and local allotments. AOB touched on Proms tickets, Winwick Lane HGVs and East Leigh Football Club.
June 2022 meeting
Good news on HS2 leaflets and compensation was shared, with questions about land and the East Leigh football field. Residents discussed Leigh Rugby’s licensing application at Pennington Flash Country Park. Action points covered Morris Homes pre-planning leaflets, Redrow site issues, Mount Tabor and gathering concerns on health services and schools.
May 2022 meeting
James Ridyard described East Leigh Football Club’s growth to over 500 children, facilities needs and HS2 uncertainty over pitches. A Redrow meeting covered HGV monitoring, speeding and showhouse plans at Oaklands Fields. Morris Homes’ roughly 250-home proposal was introduced, alongside NHS dentist shortages and Queen’s Jubilee notes.
March 2022 meeting
New committee members were introduced and Liz Brown presented on HS2’s route-wide and Lowton-specific impacts. Parkside development signage, the Atherleigh bypass extension and the need for local groups to pull together were discussed. AOB included proposed stations at Kenyon and Golborne, speeding data and Crompton Way estate concerns.