A NEGLECTED landmark is poised to play a star role in Leigh town centre revitalisation.

Derelict Queen Street railway arches are zoned for an upmarket revival as the focal point of an exciting restaurant project. It would be the fruition of a slumbering dream for father and son Wilfred and Trevor Lloyd of Leigh building contractors W Lloyd and Associates.

Managing director Trevor excitedly revealed the firm's plan to revamp the run-down arches and properties on the south side of Queen Street.

And the proposals to be considered by council planners next month will provide visitors to the town with a chic initial impression.

Leigh-at-heart Lloyds have tabled plans for a classy, 250-seater restaurant and upmarket pub - with upstairs function room to accommodate 150

Trevor said: "At present the site is a slum.

"For 26 years we've been thinking about doing something about this part of the town and over the past 12 months we have worked hard on this project.

"An indication of what we have in mind can be seen in Manchester's Castlefield arches."

The scheme includes the blue engineering brick arches as a prominent design feature.

And options under consideration could include the reopening of the on-site underground railway tunnel - part of the rail link which fed coal from outlying pits to canal barges.

Lloyds have been busy buying boarded-up properties and have entered into an agreement with the Council regarding the site bordered by Queen Street, Gas Street and Brown Street.

And Leigh Town Centre manager John Ayres greeted the scheme enthusiastically as a gateway attraction encouraging people to visit the town centre.

He said: "This is a gateway project and it has got to be a 100 per cent improvement.

"This view is the first thing people see when entering the town; this development would encourage them to come in and see all the many other improvements being made and the benefits Leigh is enjoying from Coalfield Challenge input."

Now Leigh's Lord Street estate agents Cook and Co. are acting as joint agents promoting the scheme.

Simon Cook said: "This is an exciting prospect. We will be marketing the scheme aggressively and looking to attract a large company consistent with a development of this type."

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