WIGAN Council has been in touch with Bolton West MP Chris Green to see if Atherton can be included in their bids for a chunk of the government’s levelling up fund.

Bids for all three Wigan Borough constituencies, including Leigh, will be submitted to the government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund in the coming months.

The fund, which launched in March 2021, gives local authorities the opportunity to apply for up to £20m for each MP constituency.

Councillor Molyneux, leader of Wigan Council, said: “We were hoping to submit a bid for both Wigan and Leigh in Round 1, but sadly we were unable to get the political backing needed and as a pre-requisite of bidding, we decided not to progress at this stage. We will continue to work hard to get the funding we need to turn the vision for Leigh into a reality.”

A council spokesman said: “The council has also been in contact with Chris Green MP to see if there is any scope for a bid in the Atherton area, which falls under the Bolton West constituency.”

He added that “discussions are progressing.”

The initial proposals for Leigh include a green events space, a community hub, a residential offer and improved pedestrian connectivity around the town and wider area. The proposal has been designed to help increase footfall to the town centre, stimulate activity and raise the town’s profile.

Round 1 funding decisions will be announced Autumn 2021. Bids are assessed against level of need, deliverability, strategic fit, value for money and require ministerial support.

Round two bids are set to be submitted in around 12 months’ time.