BOLTON received a massive boost yesterday with the announcement that the Virgin group is to build a multiplex cinema at Tonge Valley.

The 15-screen complex is just what the Watersmeeting family leisure park needs to ensure that it fulfills the hopes of developers and Bolton City Challenge, which has pioneered the regeneration of the Valley area with such vision.

With large new manufacturing plants being few and far between, creating a leisure park for the use of families from Bolton and further afield is the only sure way to generate the 1,000 local jobs that it promises.

It matters not one jot that Warner Brothers are already committed to building a cinema on the Wanderers Sports Village site at Horwich - Bolton is big enough to support two multiplexes and Warners will also draw patrons from Westhoughton, Blackrod, Chorley and the Wigan area.

Warner Brothers and Virgin add dynamic new names to Bolton's growing portfolio of international businesses. We welcome them both.

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