THE future of Prestwich's Longfield Centre has been thrown into confusion with the announcement that it is officially up for sale.

Many months of talks to persuade the owners to refurbish the precinct have come to nothing.

Bourne End has decided to sell the 27 shops it owns, meaning that a much-needed revamp could be further away than ever.

At one point, after Bury Council had agreed to move the library upstairs, it seemed that a deal had been struck whereby Bourne End would attract new companies into the precinct, but nothing came of the plans.

Council leader Derek Boden said he was not surprised by Bourne End's decision, describing their interest in refurbishing the precinct as "lukewarm".

Ominously, he said that any new buyer would have to "start from scratch" - any arrangement made with Bourne End was "off the table".

He hinted that the council might devolve some money and power to Prestwich organisations to improve the town centre. "It's not simply a question of putting in a lot of shops," said Councillor Boden. "You have to have the right mix including leisure facilities to attract people in and make town centres viable."

Mr Andrew Hyde of Manchester-based Lee Baron, who have managed the shops since Bourne End bought them in 1994, said they were not involved in marketing the site to potential buyers.

"It doesn't affect us," he said. "We are still managing the centre and will carry on as we were."

Local MP Ivan Lewis was not impressed by the sell-off decision.

"As suspected this demonstrates that the precinct owners had no intention of keeping their investment promises," he said.

Mr Lewis added: "I am personally willing to sit down with any potential purchaser of the precinct and representatives of businesses and residents to discuss the tremendous potential which undoubtedly exists in the community of Prestwich."

Mr John Ardern, secretary of Prestwich Business Forum, said he was disappointed that the development was not going ahead.

"Several local businesses were going to invest in new retail units if the development putting the library upstairs had gone ahead," he said. "That's almost certainly not going to happen now."

He hoped that council money would landscape the pedestrian areas and that a private operator would take over and refurbish the public toilets. New short-term car parking on Church Lane and Warwick Street should encourage people to shop locally.

"We're not giving up but pressing on with other things to encourage new ideas and investment."

No one at Bourne End was available for comment.

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