COUNCIL chiefs have pledged that the 3,000 new jobs at the Bolton Wanderers sports village should go to local people.

They have been in talks with the Bolton Bury training and Enterprise Council to set up training courses.

The idea is that people are equipped with skills which will enable them to be in the best position to take up the opportunities. More details emerged yesterday of the £160 million development at Red Moss, Horwich.

Management and finance committee councillors were told that it is now expected that £51 million will be spent in the next 12 months.

Of this money, the new 25,000 all seater stadium at Bolton Wanderers is expected to cost £32 million.

It was also explained that the scheme is expected to have multi-million pound spin-offs for local companies while it is being built.

Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, said: "You can already see the steelwork on the new stadium going up which is being carried out by Watson's steel."

Council chiefs also want to ensure that people will be able to make trips to the site to see the stadium and other developments as they go up over the next few months.

The 194-acre scheme also includes a 12-screen cinema, a hotel, a tennis centre, an athletics track, all weather pitches, shops, restaurants, a business park, industrial units and housing.

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