LEIGH's arts centrepiece Turnpike Gallery is set for change brought on by Wigan Council's huge budget cuts.

But Wigan Lesiure and Culture Trust, which manages the gallery on behalf of Wigan Council, stresses that only the gallery would be affected by proposals - not the Turnpike Centre that houses Leigh Library.

A WLCT spokesman said: "There are no plans to close the Turnpike Gallery but there are proposals to involve community groups more in the organization of exhibitions.

"Our contract to manage leisure and cultural services, on behalf of Wigan Council, has reduced by £4.6m in the last two years. In 2013/14 it will be reduced by a further £1.8m to £10m per annum as part of Wigan Council's £80m deficit reduction plan.

"In order to save money and retain frontline leisure and culture services we have reviewed large parts of our Wigan portfolio and changed the way we deliver services.

"In the Turnpike Gallery's case it will continue to be a gallery for the people of the borough but the exhibitions will be organised by members of the community such as art groups or photographic societies.

"WLCT will still play a role working with these groups to ensure the Turnpike Gallery continues to display exhibitions."

The Turnpike Gallery will continue to be run by WLCT in the immediate future as we develop this new way of delivering exhibitions."