Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust are now actively looking to appoint an expert to oversee plans for a revamp of the Turnpike Centre at Leigh Library.

Support for the Leigh plans has been overwhelming since they were first proposed by Leigh MP and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham last year, backed by Leigh Reporter's CentreStage campaign and a host of local acting talent including the town's own professional actor and drama teacher, Will Travis.

They envision the library's Derby Room being extended and transformed into a 150 to 200 seat performance space which could also be used as an art house cinema.

Mr Burnham said: "I think this is a really, really positive step forward. I've always felt that the town centre would really benefit from the redevelopment of the Turnpike.
"The addition of the theatre will certainly add something new to the town and I see it as very much part of a wider plan to look at the town centre."

A spokesman for WLCT said: "We are looking to appoint a lead consultant to look at the feasibility of refurbishing the whole of the Turnpike Centre. Part of that refurbishment may include building a studio theatre there.
"It is extremely early days. We will carry out a feasibility study, when we have this we can then look at trying to secure funding that will allow us to refurbish the whole of the Turnpike Centre.''

But he added: "Any firm plans about the future of the Turnpike Centre are an extremely long way off."