THE proposed £75million Leigh Sports Village has reached a crucial stage after the project was submitted before the Council's planning committee.

Work on the multi-million pound flagship scheme, based on land between Marshall Street and Atherleigh Way, could start next year if the proposals are given the green light by Wigan Council planning chiefs -- although no date has been set for the application to be heard.

The proposals included the 10,000-seat stadium, Wigan and Leigh College, a conference and business centre, hotel, 72 homes, 45 apartments, student accommodation, commercial leisure and retail development, a 400 metre running track, new pitches, club accommodation, and a 1,400 capacity car park on Marshall Street /Atherleigh Way.

The land to the south east of Howe Bridge Sports Centre, off Eckersley Fold Lane in Atherton would be developed into five full size soccer and rugby pitches and a 75-space car park.

Further land adjacent to Atherleigh Way, between the Twist Lane and St Helens Road junctions, would be transformed into two office buildings, both 3700 square metres, with a 250 capacity car park. There would be 51 homes built on Madeley Park - home of Leigh Harriers - in Holden Road, Leigh. And a 7400 sq metre DIY retail store, a fast food outlet, parking for a health centre and a children's play area would be built on the site of Leigh East's ground on Grasmere Street.

The Leigh Sports Partnership also held a public meeting last Thursday to discuss the proposals at the Mick Martyn Suite, Hilton Park .

The meeting attracted 75 people and concept promoter and Leigh Sports Partnership Chairman Trevor Barton said that people from different backgrounds aired their views on the Sports Village.

He said: "It was a good meeting that was attended by a variety of people. We had a lecturer who spoke and said that a new college would help improve the quality of teaching for students in Leigh. We had young people who complained that Leigh was not a good place to study after they had finished secondary school, and they also had to travel to places like Robin Park to use top quality sports facilities.Another important issue addressed was the environment.

"We had about five people at the meeting who were against the Sports Village but the vast majority were all for it. The project has reached a crucial stage and there still is a long way to go."