The Society is Primarily concerned with protecting Undercliff Gardens in Leigh. Our comments therefore are brief, and do not address the detail of your proposals.

In general terms we see the Central Area as an historic core or anchor, to the Borough. In the last 15 years it has deteriorated for reasons that the Council has not addressed. we suggest that these may include:

1. It is a sterile space, devoid of local character. The recent replacement paving nad seating did not tackle the problem, it merely demonstrated that the Council had expensively lost the plot. It does not attract shoppers and visitors who are free to travel to more attractive areas.
2. Many shops are empty, which may be due to alledgelly high business rates.
3. The University does not provide the positive contribution expected.
4. The old Victoria Circus area lacks initmacy. For example residents and visitors must wonder why trees were planted then ripped up and nobody has bother to repair or replace the millennium clock.
The suggestion that the retail area of the centre should be extended east and west is unlikely to resolve the central problem - it may even compound it. We doubt whether there is any demand for more retail space.