Xanadu heads for reality

Mr Prescott will have to deliberate on the planners' decision because of the retail element within the proposals.

Outlining the proposals for the 72 acre Pennington site Borough Planning

Officer John Sloane said:"This is probably the largest single proposal we have considered since the formation of the authority in 1974."

The outline proposal for an integrated sports and leisure complex alongside Atherleigh Way would mean the creation of the biggest building in the borough.

With an area of 1.7m square feet the complex would house "real" snow ski slopes, an aquatics centre, Alpine theme villages, multi screen cinema complex, shops, hotel and night club facilities.

Its construction would need the relocation of Wigan and Leigh College's Marshall Street campus to a site north of Sainsbury's supermarket, and the the British Amateur Rugby League Association's Centre of Excellence moving to Robin Park, Wigan.

Developers will have to adhere to 35 conditions applied by planning officers to various phases of the project.

Bedford-Astley Cllr John Lea told fellow planners Xanadu could be Leigh's Disneyworld.

"Disney had the idea of turning this swamp in Florida into the showground of the world. Who knows, it may just happen here!"

And addressing concerns about traffic congestion fears he said:"Asda at the moment has 5,000 visitors a day - this application calculates 3,500 going to Xanadu. "On Atherleigh Way we have movement of 17,500 vehicles a day, the M6 motorway has 103,000. This might just put the matter into perspective."

Cllr Lea said Xanadu would only be half the height of Liverpool Cathedral.

He said some had argued the facilities would be too expensive for local people but argued Xanadu would provide jobs which would bring prosperity.

He felt wildlife would adapt to change but admitted his concern was air pollution - a matter which environmental health watchdogs will deal with at a more detailed planning stage.

Planners heard there had been a significant number of letters of objections, mainly from the 650 locals who live near the Marshall Street site, who were part of the extensive consultation programme.

Objections came from 272 residents and eight organisations with six objections from people who didn't provide an address.

Support came from 22 local companies and one resident.

Planning committee chairman Cllr John Hilton told members:"I remember very clearly how all the members of the authority and the majority of people in Leigh felt when we joined with Manchester for the Olympic bid.

"We were extremely disappointed when we weren't successful.

"Similarly we did the same for the Commonwealth Games bid and we got the same sort of treatment and I was down in the dumps again.

"At the moment with this project there is an air of excitement."

Cllr Hilton said the snow centre was only a small part of the imaginative plan stressing it was a family leisure complex.

Highlighting the proposals for exhibition and concert facilities Cllr Hilton said:"It's not just a swimming pool but an aquatics centre par excellence. It's going to be absolutely wonderful."

THE Xanadu 16-0 for vote would have been greater had pro-Xanadu planning committee members not withdrawn from the meeting.

Leader Cllr Peter Smith, his deputy Cllr Tom Sherratt and Hope Carr were Cllr Brian Jarvis didn't take part in the Xanadu decision.

Although none had any interest to declare in the project they said because they had previously voiced support for Xanadu they felt it better if they did not vote.

Cllr Jimmy Jones declared an interest in the matter - he said his sister lived near the proposed site and had written to the Council about the plans.

And Cllr John Hession said over the years he had always supported anything which would bring jobs and prosperity to the area.

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