A XANADU site visit turned into a no-dome demo when antis beseiged Leigh councillors.

The result was a stormy confrontation between locals, Green Party supporters and Hope Carr trio Kevin Anderson, Brian Jarvis and Mark Hale in Marshall Street.

"We were savaged," said Cllr Brian Jarvis afterwards.

"We were met with verbal abuse. Nobody was interested in modifications to the plans.

"We went to explain proposed changes which go some way to satisfying the points they raised. But they just don't want Xanadu -full stop."

Cllr Jarvis said the height of the snowdome had been reduced from 72m to 55m - "that's about one third the height of Blackpool Tower and the same height as the dome at Dumplington".

And he revealed:"Part of the ski slope will be in the ground".

He said altered Xanadu proposals meant the shadow effect of the dome would fall on the project buildings rather than on nearby homes.

Landscaped mounds would hide the site from nearby homes and car park and service areas would be screened from view.

The car parks would be sited to the north, south and west of the leisure complex and the bus station to the west, with access from the by-pass.

The slope will actually straddle Pennington Brook and the three level complex will include aquatics plus waterworld as well as winterworld themes.

Ski runs on different levels, an Alpine effect snow bowl, winter games, bowling and skating are also on the cards.

A tropical rainforest, Space City, sci-fi futuristic fun rides, palm trees and Polynesian village, a Hollywood-theme cinematropolis with virtual reality screen, food, drink, restaurants and cafes.

Plans include an on-site hotel with an option for another.

If Xanadu gets the go-ahead it will mean Leigh College's Marshall Street campus being relocated alongside Atherleigh Way.

And a new Pennington CE School zoned for Marshall Street would be switched to a spot near the current West Bridgewater Street site.

The BARLA Centre of Excellence rugby ground in Etherstone Street would be relocated as the Xanadu project includes that site. But playing fields are included in the Xanadu project.

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