There’s been another twist in the ongoing row over the warehouses at Astley, after a local campaign group said it received a letter from Wigan Council warning that legal action could be considered.
The group, Astley Warehouse Action, has been campaigning against the development and recently shared the letter online, saying they felt it was an attempt to stop them speaking out.
What the campaign group says
Astley Warehouse Action says it has been raising concerns about the scale of the warehouses and their impact on local communities. Members have shared videos online and posted updates on social media documenting the construction. They say the council has been slow to address their concerns and that the letter feels like a threat.
The group maintains it is committed to campaigning peacefully and legally and says it simply wants to ensure that residents’ voices are heard.
What the letter says
Parts of the letter sent by the council to the group raise concerns about recent social media activity. The council says the videos contain “serious allegations… alluding to corruption and misconduct” and describes some claims as “factually incorrect” and “misleading versions of the truth.”
"All allegations made against officers and/or the Council are taken seriously and we will review our legal options."
In a separate public statement, Wigan Council said it respects the right of residents to campaign and express their views.
It added that the letter was sent after an increase in online content making serious and unsubstantiated allegations against the council, its staff and elected members. The council stressed that the letter was not intended to silence legitimate debate, but said it has a responsibility to respond where claims could lead to harassment or threats.
The council also confirmed it remains open to meeting with representatives of the campaign group.
Astley Warehouses Action group response
There is no let up from the campaign group which is still as active as ever across its social media channels. They have since posted a video of Council Leader David Molyneux, showing some snippets of an eight minute speech he recently gave at a council meeting. The group described him as ‘out of touch’ for not mentioning the Astley warehouses once in his speech. The story has also featured on GB News, with a full half hour dedicated to it on Sunday night.
How we got here: the warehouse development
The warehouses were approved by Wigan Council in 2024 on land designated for employment use.
The application was considered by the Planning Committee and approved in line with planning policy. The council’s letter reiterates that “a decision of the Planning Committee can only be overturned by the Planning Inspectorate or judicial review.”
No legal challenge was made within the required timeframe after permission was granted, meaning the decision cannot now be revisited through the courts.
Following concerns raised after construction began in 2025, the council commissioned an independent audit into the planning process. This review found no evidence of wrongdoing and confirmed that planning permission was granted in line with national and local legislation.
Since work began, residents have continued to raise concerns about the sheer size of the buildings, traffic, noise, lighting, and proximity to homes and the school. They say the council and developers need to listen to the community’s feedback as the site prepares to open. They also say some of the houses are now in negative equity and some residents have been suffering with their mental health as a result of the warehouses.
The campaign group says the recent meeting with Whistl was helpful, but emphasizes that constructive engagement with developers does not replace proper consultation or dialogue with the council, which they feel has been lacking.
I’ve been to see the Astley warehouses in person, and honestly, you see them on TV, you see them on social media, but nothing fully prepares you… they are huge.
Standing in a garden, with one of them looming over the fence, just didn’t seem real, even though I was there. They dominate the landscape in a way that’s hard to grasp until you’re standing there. And when you compare this to what was there before, open land, residents could see the sunrise, but now, the garden I was standing in, all you can see is this huge steel warehouse.
I went over there with people from Kitt Green, who are concerned about a potential similar development which could happen there, and seeing it up close, you can understand why residents are anxious about potential future developments near homes and schools.
In this article I have to report on what’s been said on both sides, but having seen it first hand, the scale of these warehouses, how the residents feel, how the development has changed their lives, it really sticks with you. This isn’t going anywhere.
If you’ve got a story to share drop me an email, I’d love to hear from you.
