Plans for a youth club, canal bridge and better visitor facilities at a country park have been promised as part of a £5million investment in Leigh.
Wigan council are hoping to spark wider regeneration in the town and surrounding areas as it prepares to host two major sporting tournaments.
Residents were asked what they felt needed investment through the town hall’s Believe in Leigh Fund, which has already paid for new CCTV cameras in the town centre.
The council has now revealed the projects that will make up the fund’s second phase, with £1m set aside to open a youth club in Leigh town centre.
A further £1.5m will go towards parks and public spaces including the 490-acre Pennington Flash between Leigh and Lowton.
More parking, a café, visitor information centre and rooftop seating areas have been proposed.
Civic Square will also be refurbished as part of wider plans to spruce up the Grade II listed Leigh Town Hall and Turnpike Gallery, while Leigh Market will also get a boost.
A new canal bridge is also earmarked to connect The Loom retail park to development on West Bridgewater Street.
The deputy leader of Wigan council, Coun Keith Cunliffe, said: “Residents told us that combating anti-social behaviour, tackling environmental issues, providing better youth provision and improving public realm facilities were among the most important issues to them.
“The first phase of projects saw public realm development to Bradshawgate, a new CCTV network across the town centre, improved street lighting and improved facilities on Market Place.
"These latest exciting schemes have also been developed to respond directly to that feedback.”
The Believe in Leigh fund was created to respond to community feedback and was subject to its own public consultation.
The council said the pot would ‘bolstered’ by an action plan to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour - and improve community cohesion - in the town.
Coun Cunliffe is anticipating all of the work in the town centre and Pennington Flash to be completed by 2021, when Leigh will host the Women’s Euro Championships and the Rugby League World Cup.
The Leigh East ward councillor added: “Being a host city for two major tournaments gives us a fantastic opportunity to put Leigh on the map and to create a lasting legacy for our local community.”
