Questions have been posed over whether the old Primark will be "boarded up” after it moves across Bolton later this year to make way for a major development.
An event held by the Bolton and District Pensioners Association heard how redevelopment works at Crompton is expected to start “straight away” after the clothing giant moves in November.
This is expected to make way for the remaking of Crompton Place, part of the broader regeneration of Bolton town centre.
Cllr Debbie Newall, who addressed the meeting, said: “The idea is that we want a mix of residential, cultural and retail spaces in the town centre so that people living there will bring investment and then that will spread outwards.”
The pre-election Q&A hosted by the Bolton and District Pensioners Association focused heavily on the fate of the town centre and on projects like the Crompton Place redevelopment.
The Crompton Place scheme ultimately aims to create a mixed-use development of new shops, venues, cultural facilities and housing between new walking routes.
The new walking routes will be found between Bradshawgate and Victoria Square east to west and Deansgate and Mawdsley Street north to south.
Cllr Newall, of Kearsley, said that once Primark moved to its new Market Place home in November then work would be able to start straight away on Crompton Place.
She said that the old Primark in Crompton Place would not need to be boarded up in the meantime.
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But Cllr John Walsh, who also attended the question and answer session said that there was still issues to be resolved with planning permission for the new development.
He pointed out that this could mean that works will not be able to take place soon enough or quickly enough to avoid having to board up the old Primark branch.
Cllr Walsh, of Astley Bridge, said: “We know that there is still the issue of planning consent for the Crompton Place development.
"So are they really going to tell me that you have vacant premises on Bradshawgate, with uncovered windows that don’t need to be boarded up?”
He added: “To keep saying that its not going to be boarded up is all very well but I will have a number of questions I will be seeking answers to on this.”
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