DEVELOPER Chris Baybutt, the driving force behind the planned Xanadu leisure complex in Leigh, has hit back at a "catalogue of erroneous information which is being put about by some of the objectors".

He says he respects the rights of anyone to object, but has called on the town to get behind the development, which will include one of Europe's biggest indoor ski slopes, complete with machine made snow.

He said he was sure Leigh would be proud of it in years to come.

"We hope that factional and unsubstantiated fears can be balanced by wider support on behalf of the community as a whole," said Mr Baybutt.

He stressed that the proposed Xanadu site is not in the Green Belt or within Pennington Flash Country Park.

Mr Baybutt said it lies on white land in the Council's Development Plan - that is, within the designated urban area.

"Xanadu will not take up any agricultural areas - indeed it's a partly 'brownfield' development and reuses some areas which are currently occupied by college buildings, which will be replaced by brand new college facilities closer to Leigh town centre."

He adds: "The building will not be a glass clad dome. Glass is not in any event used over artificial snow because of solar gain and energy inefficiency.

"The site already has a valid planning permission for the large aquatics centre originally proposed for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. That building was to have been some 30m high at its highest.

"The aquatics centre planning approval has already established the principle of a junction on Atherleigh Way, which we propose to incorporate in to the Xanadu scheme."

A former European motor cycle racing champion, Mr Baybutt says the Traffic Impact Assessment which is part of their application has examined the effect on the local main road network.

"And it proposes a series of improvements to cater for the increased traffic. These off-site road improvements form part of our proposals and will be built and funded by us in conjunction with Xanadu."

He added that an Environmental Impact Analysis - part of the application - looked in detail at all possible impacts on the environment including such things as energy conservation, trees, drainage, wildlife protection and the possible shadows cast by the building.

"If fair minded people would care to consult this analysis properly then they will see that erroneous and grossly exaggerated accusations are being made by protesters about the possible impact of the Xanadu development."

Mr Baybutt says Greenbank Partnership's outline application is simply seeking approval in principle at this stage.

"The building design and layout are illustrative only and are subject to further detailed design, refinement and improvement if the current application is successful.

"As developers we fully appreciate residents' understandable fears. We are more than willing to take account of any justifiable suggestions for improvement which may emerge through the planning process such as revisions to the location of the coach parking area, security of the screening mounds and ensuring no visitor parking takes place in surrounding residential areas."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.