PROTESTERS claim plans for the £146 million snow centre at Pennington are wafer thin and won't stand up to serious challenge.

Firing the first salvo minutes before the start of the three-week public inquiry at Leigh, 'No Xanadu' campaigner Chris Maile said the developers had already changed a badly thought-out project to fit into the latest Government guidance.

But Miss Frances Patterson QC, for the developers, told inquiry inspector Mr Morris Turner that the scheme was unique, distinctive, of considerable benefit and significant for the North West.

The inquiry is expected to hear around 23 official witnesses and many members of the public and other organisations - including Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, Shipleys Bingo, Culcheth and Glazebury Action Group, Kenyon Residents Group, and David Shallcross from Leigh Ornithological Society.

The developers - Moorfield Estates plc and Greenbank Partnerships Ltd - say the 72-acre Pennington site will generate 3,500 new construction and full and part-time jobs bringing real indoor snow slopes, an aquatics centre, Alpine theme village, multi-screen cinema complex, shops, hotel and night club facilities and a new railway station serving the town.

Its construction will need the relocation of Wigan and Leigh College's Marshall Street campus to a site north of Sainsburys supermarket on Atherleigh Way. The 'No Xanadu Campaign' who are jointly presenting their case with The Green Party, will be represented by Mr Maile, who is also a candidate in the Wigan Council elections for Hope Carr, the Xanadu ward.

Speaking before the inquiry start, Mr Maile said the protesters were not complacent.

"But the whole campaign is cheered by the poor quality of the evidence of both the developers and the council which has given us renewed vigour that has convinced the entire opposition team of our eventual success."

Andrew Oxley, Mr Maile's Conservative opponent in Hope Carr, will give the 'NXC' 'economic case. Green Party Euro candidates, Prof. John Whitelegg (transport) and Lance Crooks (design), will also give evidence.

The main points of the objectors case will be centred on their claims that the development will create 13,500 additional traffic movements a day, creating chaos on the local road network.

They also claim the 55-metres high building will cause a 'shadow-lands' over local homes.

But Miss Patterson QC, for the developers, who will call 11 supporting witnesses, said the scheme was consistent with the council's Unitary Development Plan and no other smaller site was available or could contain it.

She said the scheme would improve bus and rail links; car parking had been cut and the development was "entirely consistent with Government policy as is now and emerging."

Miss Ruth Stockley for Wigan MBC said the plans were in full accordance with the UDP. She will call six witnesses.

Council leader Peter Smith and Hope Carr councillor Mark Hale will also give evidence in support of the plans.

The inquiry will sit Tuesday-Friday (10am to 5pm).

The inspector will make a formal visit to the site before announcing his decision, expected later this year.

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