MP Andy Burnham is putting his weight behind moves to attract top high street retailers to prime locations in Leigh.

Mr Burnham says: "Many vacant properties on Bradshawgate, Market Street, Lord Street and Railway Road are in prime locations and, I believe, could be of interest to high-street retailers."

Praising the efforts of town centres manager Laurie Barton and management group chairman Cllr Brian Jarvis he said: "Leigh has a lot to offer as a shopping centre. It is well-located, has a compact and pedestrianised shopping area offering a friendly atmosphere for shoppers.

"There have been many welcome improvements in recent years, thanks largely to the work of Leigh Town Centre Management."

Mr Burnham believes the new Spinning Gate extension will help bring more shoppers to Leigh and the housing growth on Leigh's doorstep in Lowton, Culcheth, Pennington, Atherton and Hindley Green.

He said: "For those looking to expand in the North West, Leigh could offer a good option."

He says he appreciates what Wigan Council is doing to attract investment to the town but believes he can help by approaching retailers directly in his capacity as MP and highlighting the town's strengths.

Action plan

Now Mr Burnham wants to meet Wigan's Chief Executive Stephen Jones, officers and councillors to discuss an action plan he has been discussing with Laurie Barton. The suggestion is that high profile retailers and leisure companies should be targeted and Leigh might get cinema and bowling facilities.

And he is suggesting it might be possible to offer incentives as an added attraction.

Town Centres manager Laurie Barton explained: "Although our town centre vacancy rate is in line with national figures I'd still like to see vacant units filled.

"Our new website, which goes on line next month, will have a vacant property database containing details of all vacant retail property in Leigh town centre.

"The Town Talk project is a national initiative supported by the DTI and is specifically aimed at town centre regeneration. The Key Retailer Programme I have begun lists types of shops we already have in the town centre and those missing so we can identify which retailer types would be most successful.

" Leigh has a lot to offer potential investors -- we have a catchment of 158,000 and a town population of 45,000, with new housing meaning an ever expanding potential customer base."

Laurie is hoping to organise a investment exhibition in Spring 2002 in Leigh town centre. With the help of the inward investment team at Wigan Borough Chamber of Commerce Ltd, Wigan's Economic Development department, the council and Mr Burnham, she aims to show people what Leigh has to offer."