BOLTON has staged "a bit of a coup" in attracting the sixth annual national mills conference.

This is the view of Steve Burns, Bolton Council's Head of Economic Development.

The conference attracts about 120 delegates from all over the country - mostly from the north.

It is being held this year at the Bolton Moat House Hotel on Thursday, June 19.

The conference is organised by the private sector and attracts people from local government, mill owners, developers and others with an interest in making the most of our splendid Victorian legacies. Bolton has worked hard to develop mills in the town for many years.

The Halliwell area, in particular, has seen the benefits of private/public sector initiatives through City Challenge.

"We have persuaded the organisers to come to Bolton," Mr Burns said.

Delegates will be told that Bolton still has 138 mills and visits will be arranged to some of those which have been regenerated.

A key theme for the conference will be how to bring partners round the table to raise the necessary finance for schemes.

The other issues will be:

Delivering high technology to mill premises.

Using mills for high quality managed workspaces, rent-a-desks and business start-ups.

Mills as major cultural venues.

Key-note presentations will include those by Ray Jefferson, Bolton Council's Director of Planning and Engineering and Gerry Fitzhenry, Chief Executive at Bolton City Challenge.

Mr Martin Waller from the Verna Group will speak about working in partnership on refurbishing Egyptian Mill in Bolton.

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