A STRATEGIC board set up to drive forward a long-term vision for the regeneration of Leigh has made great progress, its members say.
As previously reported by the Journal, the Leigh Innovation Board was set up late last year to make improvements to the daytime and nighttime economy, make the town feel safer, and encourage more residents into the town centre.
Led by Spinning Gate shopping centre boss Karen Cox, the project brings together representatives from the council, local businesses, and police, as well as residents, and voluntary and community organisations .
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Meeting bi-monthly, the board has discussed ways to improve Leigh, such as utilising Civic Square as a central hub, improving the look of town centre buildings and spaces, enhancing the market and shopping offers, and making the town a safer place to visit, shop, and have a night out.
Over the past 18 months, the board say they have seen the benefits of town centre events around Civic Square, such as the Women's Euros fanzone, the Kings Coronation celebration, the Leopard's Wembley homecoming and the recent Christmas light switch on.
Bringing thousands more people into the town centre, the events have boosted trade for town centre businesses as well as improving attitudes about the town, board members say.
Proposals to revamp Leigh Market and improve the look of buildings around the town centre have also had a huge boost recently, as the government u-turned on its rejection of Wigan Council's Levelling Up bid and will award the local authority with £11.4m for its regeneration projects.
Karen Cox, leader of the Innovation Board, said: "We have a very good base to improve things in Leigh, because of the things that are already in place, the partnerships we have, and the footfall we get.
"The market is one of the busiest markets around the region and has a consistent occupancy of over 80%, while the Spinning Gate boasts 94% occupancy and footfall keeps going up and up.
"We know that people are passionate about Leigh so we want to build on this to encourage people into the town and bring back a pride of place."
With residents often reminiscing about Leigh's vibrant pub and club scene, Innovation Board members include owners in the hospitality industry, such as Zoe and Alex Grundy at Cafe Stella, who are desperate to improve the town's nightlife.
As the council's Cumulative Impact Zone, which refused many bar and club licences to address anti-social behaviour, has now been lifted, there are renewed hopes that Leigh's nightlife offer can now start to expand and diversify.
Safety marshals have also been deployed across the borough's town centres, in the daytime and nighttime economy, to help residents feel safer and encourage them to visit town centre businesses.
The police have also committed to a neighbourhood policing approach and patrolling anti-social behaviour hotspots to assist with this.
Karen added: "We get really good turn-ups at our meetings, from different partners and stakeholders, to residents and guest speakers.
"We speak about positive things and how we can make improvements with a long-term vision.
"Everyone who is involved is passionate about the town and wants to make a better Leigh for everyone."
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