A CONCERNED community has rallied together after rumours another big chain could be setting up shop.

Residents in Leigh are worried that major chains are creeping into the town, threatening its unique character, and now rumours have surfaced that Pizza Express could move in to the former Rio restaurant site, although the company has denied it.

Rio, in Leigh’s Broadway, closed suddenly last October and, despite Pizza Express saying they have no current plans to open a branch in Leigh, residents are insistent that they do not want any more chains.

Alan Clary, who runs Bubbles Pet Care in Broadway, said: “I first heard it from a customer that Pizza Express were enquiring about the building and then traders said it too.

“There is a definite creeping of chains and it would be dreadful if another chain took over this building. It’s pushing up rents and threatening the independent traders.”

Leigh Society member Clive Webster is not as worried. He said: “It wouldn’t exactly change the culture.

“Once you let one chain in you can’t really say no to others, so it’s not something that concerns me.”

Fast-food store Subway and Costa Coffee have already arrived in the town and in January it was announced that Specsavers was opening next to an independent opticians.

In response to the news, editor of Leigh Life magazine, Francesca Quinn, launched a campaign called Love Independent Leigh and has launched a petition which has more than 400 signatures.

She said: “I heard about Pizza Express from a number of traders. I had already launched the Love Independent Leigh campaign weeks earlier, following the arrival of Specsavers.

“When we held the first meeting for the campaign, the petition against Pizza Express taking over Rio was suggested by one of the traders.

“At the end of the day, whether it’s Pizza Express or another chain, the petition makes it clear that this is not what the traders and residents of Leigh want for the future of the town.

“If the chains move in everyone will suffer for it. The independents bring tourism that boosts the local economy.”

Leigh councillor Bernard Arscott feels it will depend on details, adding: “As long as it’s something that doesn’t undermine the culture of Leigh then it could work. But we’ll have to see.”