THE millionaire owner of the Elms Precinct has agreed to meet with campaigners - just a stone's throw away from the blitzed shopping centre.

Albert Gubay is to travel to Whitefield on Monday (Feb 14) to see for himself the level of feeling about the Bury New Road site.

MP Ivan Lewis challenged Mr Gubay to meet local residents and traders in a bid to break the stalemate over the future of the precinct.

The millionaire will be quizzed by campaigners, as well as Derek Boden, the leader of Bury Council, and Whitefield and Unsworth Area Board chairman Coun Alan Bridson.

However, the Bury South MP urged people to put the past behind them.

Mr Lewis said: "I see this as a very real opportunity to put the difficulties of the past behind us and create a new partnership focused on the regeneration of Whitefield town centre, including the Elms Precinct. "Local residents want a town centre that restores pride in the community. We want a combination of shops and amenities that can provide a service to local residents and attract public and private sector investment.

"Much has been written about the actions of all parties involved in this saga. The time has now come to start seeking solutions to satisfy residents and business people alike."

Mr Gubay last met the MP, and another local councillor, when they travelled to the Isle of Man, the base of precinct owners North Western Properties, two years ago.

They returned with news of a proposed sports centre which never materialised and last March the firm ordered in the demolition men.

Shocked traders turned up for business to find neighbouring vacant properties razed, and it then took until November for the company to remove the rubble.

The exact location of Monday's meeting is being kept a secret amid fears of protests.

Coun Derek Boden said he was "pleasantly surprised" that Mr Gubay had agreed to attend and was optimistic of a positive outcome.

"I hope he will recognise there is much more to be gained from talking constructively with the local community," he said.

He added: "I am not saying people should forget things . It is important to place things in context and any experiences we have had in the past are an important part of the process.

"However, at the end of the day the most important thing is finding ways of working together to achieve something that is to the benefit of all."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.