XANA-do or Xana-don't -- that's the agonising question still waiting to be answered.

Four years after the £210 million Xanadu snow dome leisure complex proposals for Leigh were revealed, Secretary of State John Prescott is still undecided whether or not to give it the go-ahead.

"Space age Leigh" was the headline The Journal used to bring you news of the amazing plans for Pennington.

Originally billed as the largest water, snow and ice sports complex in the west, launch plans highlighted a 377 feet high dome (later reduced in height by half ), multi screen cinema, nightclub and restaurant.

Its promoters said it would cost a total of more than £200 million (later figures suggest £150 million), create 6,000 jobs and put Leigh on the tourist map in a tie-up with Leeds-Liverpool canal corridor plans and Wigan Pier.

Wigan Council has supported the proposals from the outset, believing it would provide a much needed boost for the local economy which has suffered dearly from industrial decline.

Sited alongside the Atherleigh Way by-pass, it would occupy the Wigan and Leigh College campus and playing fields giving the town brand new higher education facilities near the Parsonage Retail Park.

But the Xanadu proposals have met with criticism from locals, who feel it would blight the Pennington area, and from conservationists who fear its disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.

In an effort to appease critics, amended proposals targeted transport and reducing environmental impact.

A complex inquiry into whether Xanadu happens or not involves a similar investigation into the pros and cons of a railway station at Kenyon Junction.

This would securing a Manchester-Liverpool rail link with park and ride facilities for Xanadu.

Yesterday was given as the D-Day target for a decision from Secretary of State John Prescott.

But none has been forthcoming.

A Government spokesman yesterday told The Journal: "This was a very complicated inquiry with a lot of legal argument.

"It is still being looked at by the Secretary of State and important issues are still under consideration."