EVERYONE'S claiming victory after the Xanadu by-election battle in Hope Carr Ward.

But it's Labour's Mark Hale who'll be taking his seat on Wigan Council with a 400 vote majority after a four-way fight which hinged on a one-issue debate: the proposed £150 million Xanadu snow-dome leisure complex which will bring five million visitors to the town and 7,500 jobs.

Pledging his continued support for Xanadu he told The Journal: "My victory tonight is the political answer to the Xanadu debate. I can tell you I will be fighting for Xanadu and the jobs and prosperity it will bring to the town. I will be doing my best to make sure Xanadu goes ahead.

"We are confident that the silent majority of people who didn't vote are confident with the way Labour are running the town and are on favour of Xanadu."

Leading opposition came from the Green Party's Anti-Xanadu candidate Chris Maile who says wildlife and the environment in Hope Carr will be destroyed by excessive transport and pollution from the project.

And after the three opposition parties combined collected FOURTEEN votes more than Labour, Mr Maile told the election count: "We won!"

He added later: "From the very beginning we made it clear that this was a one issue election; that we didn't care where the vote went so long as it said 'no' to Xanadu.

"That came through tonight in this close fought battle. But the fight has now only just begun. We shall continue to oppose Xanadu with renewed vigour in the knowledge that the majority oppose Xanadu, giving a clear mandate for a public inquiry."

Wigan planners will consider the Greenbank Partnership application in February, and Mr Hale said: "Then all the scare-mongering from the Green Party will be seen to be false."

Defeated Conservative David Morris congratulated the Greens on their second place but vowed to continue campaigning for the Xanadu project to go-ahead, but on an alternative site - preferably at Bickershaw or behind the Asda store on Atherleigh Way.

He added: "We believe Xanadu will be good for the local economy but not on the proposed site."

Mr Hale, who will sit on the Establishment, Public Protection and Highways Committees picks up a two-year term due to the resignation of Labour councillor Gary Brooks.

THE

VOTES

Mark Hale (Lab) 1045

Chris Maile (Green) 636

David Morris (Con) 321

Freda Graham (Lib Dem) 102

Labour majority 409

21% turn out

No change

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