GLORY days are promised if a town centre blueprint gets the green light.

Leigh Business Partnership has produced a 30-point draft plan to take Leigh successfully into the 21st century.

Businessmen believe boom town beckons - but the report says everyone must get their act together to offer an attractive commercial centre.

They aim to put pride and character back and give the town individual colour by adopting the old Leigh Corporation bus blue.

That mid-blue livery would be splashed everywhere on signs, bus shelters and street furniture, including much-needed extra litter bins.

Parking meters or pay and display could be introduced along with short and long term parking and on-street for limited period.

The Partnership also aims to work closely with Police to ensure shoppers' personal safety.

Upgraded surroundings would feature a heritage centre highlighting textile and mining, cheesemaking and engineering.

Better shops, Victorian style pavement bollards, new developments, car parks and feature railway arches, an archway to Railway Road shops, French style bus shelters, a Town Hall square outdoor market, trees and plants.

Partnership secretary and market trader Alan Jones explained: "Those funds would be used to improve the identity of Leigh and restore it to its former glory.

"Leigh can pull shoppers in from Warrington, St Helens, Irlam, Farnworth and Bolton. Leigh is not just a town of 50,000 people but the gateway to 150,000. The potential is there, we have just got to get them back in." And town centre shopkeeper Gordon Jackson boldly claimed: "This will get Leigh back on its feet. Our proposals cover many areas from establishing a new identity for Leigh to improving street cleaning, from introducing short stay car parking to re-routing buses down Lord Street."

Survey findings have been published in the Partnership's "The Regeneration Initiative" - a 15 part document setting out ways to regenerate the town.

The success of the new Asda superstore, no rail access, lack of car parking and direction signs and the negative aspect of empty shops have all had an effect on the downturn.

The report says the town can build a special identity which could attract shoppers tired with superstore offerings. And a more varied retailing mix could be another key to success.

Redevelopment possibilities are seen at Doctor's Nook and at Queen Street where railway arches could be developed as an heritage entrance to the town.

And special events like music festivals, jazz weeks, carnivals, parades and events utilising the through-town canal could be promoted.

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