A SHOPPING precinct will not be refurbished until new tenants have been found.

Local MP Ivan Lewis has expressed his disappointment at the news about the Longfield precinct in Prestwich. But he is pleased to have been invited to meet the owners of the rundown Elms Square precinct in Whitefield.

Mr Lewis has received a letter from Bourne End Properties Ltd, the Longfield precinct owners, who have failed to refurbish the centre despite coming to an agreement with Bury Council three months ago.

In the letter, Bourne End say they are keen to proceed with the plan but "cannot commit a substantial capital outlay to fund the scheme without seeing some form of immediate return for shareholders."

The letter also says they will not proceed with the work until they have secured a tenant for the largest store unit and, ideally, one of the new larger retail units.

However, the news about Whitefield's shopping centre seems more hopeful. Elms Square owners, North Western Properties Ltd, have invited Mr Lewis to their Isle of Man offices on Wednesday. Mr Lewis hopes to be accompanied by Bury Council representatives.

He said: "I am flying to the Isle of Man in the hope we can break the deadlock which has led to the tragic deterioration of the precinct."

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