A NEW shop will open in Leigh on Friday bringing together several community groups.

Cadence CIC has taken a license on a shop at 25 Market Street, part of Turnpike Buildings and opposite the town hall which will be managed by the Leigh Building Preservation Trust.

The shop will be shared by the trust and other groups including Old Leigh Photos Heritage Group, Leigh Hackspace and Leigh band The Lottery Winners.

Peter Rowlinson from the trust said: “It will provide a location for updates on the Leigh Spinners project including displaying the plans for the mill’s future uses and will display many of the old photos of Leigh.

“ It is hoped that there will be photos and paintings of local people and landmarks available for sale. The Old Leigh Photos group now has 7,000 members, which means that more than 10 per cent of the population of Leigh are members of this group.

“Leigh Hackspace is a local group which will make hi technology equipment available to local people. This will include 3D printers as well as advice and assistance with technical problems and queries.”

The shop will have meeting space for groups wishing to have meetings for up to 16 people for a nominal charge and there are plans to host a community notice board for events within the shop.

The shop has been established with substantial help from local organisations especially Leigh Spinners Ltd which has supplied carpet tiles, the Brick Warehouse in Wigan, Cadence CC and Trust in Leigh.

The shop will open for business at 3pm on Friday for an official opening.

It will be open on most days but will be available for use outside by other organisations if booked in advance through Leigh BPT or Old Leigh Photos.