THE planned Xanadu snowdome could force the closure of at least eight Leigh businesses, the Green Party claims.
The Greens say detailed analysis of a retail impact assessment report by professional experts MVM Planning revealed the area could suffer as much as a 23 per cent trade loss.
Although the party says it accepts that the figures, from a report commissioned by Wigan Council, are "a worst case scenario", they still show the level of trade that could be lost.
The report suggests that anticipated gains from increased trade across the region will lessen the problems of traders' losses.
It goes on to state that Xanadu will account for 45pc of all new trade within the region meaning Bolton could lose up to £4.9 million and Leigh £3.2 million.
Greens spokesman Chris Maile said: "Traders need to know if they can make investment within the town centre, those employed in the retail trade need to know if their jobs are safe.
"So far these matters have not been addressed publicly by either Wigan or the developers of Xanadu, especially as Wigan through the MVM report admit there will be some closures of retail businesses within Leigh as a direct result of Xanadu."
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