MORE colliery cash is on its way to Leigh - a whopping £19 million worth. After last week's news that £5 million has been allocated to regenerate former mining areas around Leigh comes the latest windfall.

Now English Partnerships has announced funding of more than £19 million to help transform the derelict former Bickershaw colliery site by 2007.

Plans for the site being developed with the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and British Waterways are likely to include a housing development and a canal marina down Plank Lane.

Neil Mortimer, for English Partnerships, said: "The final scheme will create new public open space and woodland, overnight facilities for canal users, plus new opportunities for housing and employment."

Coalfield Community Campaign member Cllr Keith Cunliffe welcomed the news and said: "This has come about because of the pressure we have put on the NWDA and English Partnerships."

Helen France, NWDA Director of Development and Partnerships said: "This important initiative will be crucial in tackling the problems associated with the area and will provide a wealth of new opportunities for the local community, creating jobs, high quality housing and attractive open spaces."

The next step is to appoint a contractor to clean up the site which could be transformed by early 2007.

Delighted Leigh MP Andy Burnham said: "If we get it right, this development could transform our area."