A businessman's call for old public buildings in Leigh to be demolished to make way for a prestigious new complex has met with opposition.

Bulldoze 'em - Bernard Vincent-Pryke's idea of wiping out Leigh police station and other neighbouring buildings has been met with opposition Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Bernard Vincent-Pryke, 72, of Woodlands Park, Leigh, who has run his engineering consultancy business in the town for 39 years, said the community centre and police station in Elm Road should be replaced by a multi-purpose building and two-storey car park.

He said: "This is an under-used, dilapidated site right in the heart of Leigh which is screaming out for development.

"A modern building, with state-of-the-art facilities would allow the town to fulfil its potential. We need a community building for the next generation and the next hundred years."

But Leigh Town Council vice-chairman Jean Rowswell has poured cold water on the idea.

She said: "The police station and the community centre are lovely old buildings and I believe there may be applications to get them listed, which would rule out demolishing them."

Published Wednesday, August 6, 2003

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