Residents in the English town of Wigan are pointing to a pair of Instagram images, taken two years apart, as evidence of how quickly a warehouse site rose next to their neighborhood. The before-and-after comparison has become part of a legal battle over a development they say sits alarmingly close to local homes.
Here's what to know
According to an Instagram post, neighbors say they will appear at Wigan Athletic Stadium on Nov. 10 and 11 to present their case to the Traffic Commissioner, while also raising money for legal support related to the public inquiry over whether the site operator can obtain an Operator's License for the site.
Rather than revisiting the planning approval, the hearing described in the post would deal with HGV use at the development. In other words, the immediate dispute is about how heavy goods vehicles would operate from the site, not a full rehearing of the warehouse decision.
The post framed that message with a direct challenge to readers: "These images are two years apart. Imagine if this happened to your home?"
Support also appeared in the comments, including one reply that said: "I'd be absolutely heartbroken. I really hope you win this fight."
The "before" image is taken from someone's home, looking out over their backyard. Beyond the yard is a large open field with more buildings way off in the distance. The "after" photo is taken from the same place, but now a massive warehouse fills the frame beyond their yard, so close you could throw a rock at it.
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More background
The post also made clear that residents see the conflict as wider than the license case involving the site operator. It said campaigners would "continue to fight" over the development, casting blame beyond the operator now at the center of the inquiry.
In their telling, proximity is the core grievance. Residents said the warehouse stands "just metres from our homes" and argued the impact could extend to "hundreds of people" living nearby.
Reaction was not limited to neighbors. One commenter wrote, "I live in a different nation and I'm absolutely fuming for all that live in this area," and other responses similarly questioned how authorities could permit a large logistics development so near residential properties.
What's being done?
Residents say the clearest step is collecting money for the case. The post described a crowdfunding effort for legal support connected to the public inquiry, with donations directed through GoFundMe to help cover representation as they oppose the operator's license application.
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