THE race to build a multiplex cinema in Bolton is hotting- up. Developers are bullish about the prospects at all three prospective sites - the Bolton Wanderers sport village scheme at Horwich, the leisure development in the Tonge Valley and the Bolton Greyhound Stadium in Manchester Road. Announcements are expected very shortly that major cinema groups are committed to Bolton.

There seems little concern about United Cinemas International's announcement that it is to build one of six new multi-screen complexes at the £230m shopping centre being built at Dumplington.

The cinema chain says a £10m multiplex - probably with 12 screens - will be built at the Trafford Centre, just off the M63, by December, 1997. It will have up to 3,500 seats and create about100 new jobs.

A spokesman said today that UCI was currently exploring possible developments in 10 other locations, but declined to say where they were.

Bolton, however, was not ruled out because of the Trafford Centre project.

David Short of Orbit Developments, who are involved in the Horwich village scheme with Bolton Wanderers and Bolton Council which has planning approval, said a cinema decision was expected in the next couple of weeks.

"We are discussing schemes with two or three of the big operators and we have not made a decision yet," he said.

"But we are not going to be short of an operator," he added. The London-based Raven Group also says it is involved in advanced negotiations with a cinema group for its proposed £10m re-development of the Bolton Greyhound Stadium. This is due to be considered by Bolton planning councillors in February or March.

The company is also negotiating with the owners of two Bolton sites which have been identified as the location for a new dog track development which would also have facilities for stock car and speedway racing.

"We are not at all worried about the Trafford Centre," a spokesman said.

The £15m leisure scheme in the Tonge Valley, Bolton, which also has planning approval, involves site owners Tudor Properties, Cheshire developers THI and Bolton City Challenge. They too are in negotiations with cinema operators and are confident of success.

Observers believe the Bolton area could definitely sustain one multiplex and perhaps two - but not three.

Time Warner, the US entertainment group, is reported to be planning to spend £140m on 20 multiplexes over the next two years and the Virgin group is said to be intending to build another 10.

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