VITAL decisions in the Xanadu leisure complex debate won't be made until next Spring.

At the resumed Kenyon Junction rail station enquiry Inspector Morris Turner announced a further adjournment in matters essential to Xanadu plans until February 1.

Xanadu developers Greenbank Partnership have been asked to provide an environmental impact survey by the Government Office for the North West.

And that statement must be submitted and other parties given time to respond before the inquiry is to reconvene.

The Kenyon Junction rail station proposal - which went to inquiry stage after being turned down by Warrington Council - is a vital ingredient to Xanadu proposals.

Charles George QC for Greenbank said his client's environmental impact statement will be submitted by December 6.

But anti-station and No Xanadu campaigner Chris Maile argued that the assessment should take place next Spring: "This is a period when the majority of wildlife is either hibernating or has gone away for the winter.

"Assessment over this period is totally ridiculous."

To which Mr George replied: "We are certainly not delaying for another year."

Inspector Mr Turner said: "This isn't just a tiny little thing, an add-on extra, it's an important part of proceedings."

He added that provided the environmental study report is with the Government Office for the North West by December 6, the inquiry will resume on Tuesday, February 1 with the second week commencing on March 7.

The third and final week of the inquiry will begin on March 7.

Supplementary statements should be submitted by 5pm on Friday, January 14 to the inquiry programme officer at Leigh Town Hall.

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