TWO car parks will close temporarily in preparation for a major new store in Leigh town centre.

National household goods retailers Wilkinsons - who sell a range of products from food to hardware - are set to move onto Silk Street car park site.

As part of the deal, 80 extra spaces are earmarked for the multi-storey car park planned for Bengal Street library plot.

To allow for test boring the library car park will close Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 28-30) and the Silk Street/Bold Street car park will close Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, (May 5-7).

Borough Land and Property Manager Harry Holden said:"News that a major new retailer is opening at the heart of Leigh town centre has been widely welcomed.

"The fact that this development can happen without any overall loss of parking spaces was an important factor in the Council's decision to approve it.

"In order to establish ground conditions on both sites it is essential to carry out this test drilling. We are asking people who regularly use these car parks to bear with us. Disruption will be kept to a minimum."

The cost of the work will come from the money the Council receives from the sale of the development site.

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