A GUARANTEED £11.4 million down payment has been promised to boost college facilities and kick-start the £75 million Leigh Sports Village project.

Minister for Education and Skills Ivan Lewis was at Wigan and Leigh College's Marshall Street campus last Friday where he pledged his commitment, support and enthusiasm for a development which will transform the Leigh area.

He was in town to announce that £11.4 million has been committed on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council to redevelop the campus.

Mr Lewis spoke of the need for giving needy communities something they can believe in.

"Ideally we shall see a raising of aspirations beyond families into the community as a whole. Hopefully this project will become a model example of how significant investment can deliver real, practical change for disadvantaged communities."

The news has been welcomed by MP Andy Burnham who sees it as a positive indication that the Leigh Sports Village will be built.

He said: "The Leigh Sports Village has taken a huge step forward with this news. It is a well-deserved reward for all those who are working so hard to make it a reality.

"Ivan Lewis knows exactly what this would mean for Leigh and, with this down-payment on behalf of the Labour Government, he has bought into it our vision for the future of the town. It would transform education and learning in Leigh.

Major plank

"It is the breakthrough that we needed. A major plank of the funding package is now in place and I hope it will encourage other potential funders to come to the table.

"I also hope the local community will see we are listening to concerns raised. A number of significant changes have been made to the plans and further consultation is now taking place.

"We have gone that extra mile and I hope as many people as possible will now get the plans as they enter the crucial planning phase early in 2004."

Those involved in the ambitious project hope it will be a catalyst for the entire area fusing sport and education into a dynamic, potent combination.