NO Kenyon Junction station, no Xanadu. That's the bottom line spelled out at the public inquiry in to whether the planned Leigh leisure complex gets the go-ahead.

Transport executive barrister Charles George QC told the inquiry: "Initially GMPTE was lukewarm.

"In the light of the amendments the PTE and PTA wish the Secretary of State to know that this proposal does have the PTE's support and is novel because it is public transport orientated."

Mr George said, disregarding Xanadu, the prospect of a station at Kenyon Junction would fall in line with Government policy in getting people to transfer from private car to public transport.

He said the station would be a significant addition to public transport provision at no cost to the public because the developer had agreed to fund the station scheme because this was the key to resolving Xanadu access problems.

And he said the Leigh Busway proposal was "in no way dependent on Xanadu...it was conceived long before.....It is a free-standing proposal".

Mr George continued: "It shows that by a happy coincidence these developers have chosen an area which is alive with public transport proposals.

"It may be that this developer has got it about right and the GMPTE wishes it well."

Bill Tyson, director and chairman of the GMPTE transport management group, said existing bus services formed the basis of a sound public transport network able to serve Xanadu.

But significant developments, if they go through, were quality bus routes, with priority corridors planned between Leigh and Bolton and Leigh and Wigan, plus the proposed dedicated Leigh-Manchester Busway.

Mr Tyson said: "If they were built they would enhance the quality of the public transport network. And a rail station at Kenyon Junction is a pre-requisite to the opening of Xanadu.

"Until trains are stopping at the station Xanadu could not proceed."

Asked by Mike Matthews, of Culcheth and Glazebury Action Group, whether there was a guarantee that every train that arrives there would be met by a bus Mr Tyson replied: "That's an issue being discussed by the applicant's consultants and bus operators.

"The developer wants trains and a high level of public transport use if Xanadu gets the go-ahead and opens in 2003."

Mr Tyson said the Government was committed to making car travel costlier.

He said: "Even taking small numbers of cars off the road can make a significant reduction to traffic congestion."

Questioned by Mr Matthews as to if there had been any prior collaboration between transport chiefs and the Xanadu developers, Mr Tyson answered: "Our relationship is not with the developer. It is with the planning authority."

And Mr George added: "Someone did approach the PTE before the application."

'No Xanadu Campaign' and Leigh Busway objector Chris Maile asked Mr Tyson why the Leigh Busway route was specifically needed to serve Xanadu.

"Why choose that rather than the A580 which runs past Kenyon Junction?", he queried.

Mr Tyson replied: "If a bus was coming along the A580 it would have to divert on its way to Leigh to serve Xanadu."

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