CINEMA SET TO MAKE EASTLEIGH'S CHRISTMAS SPARKLE - HOUSE

4.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 18th Apr 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne and borough leader Keith House were told that the new cinema and 20-lane bowling site in Eastleigh is on schedule for a grand Christmas season opening during a visit to the construction site.

Mr Huhne and Cllr House are pictured with Dee Buffone, manager of the Swan centre, and Chris Aimes, site manager for Wareings the builders in front of what will be the main entrance to the 9-screen cinema.

"You can see the development really taking shape now that the roof is on and it is nearly waterproof. It is going to be a very exciting addition to the town, bringing great new amenities for everyone and also attracting business from Chandler's Ford, Winchester, Hedge End and further afield. It will be really worth waiting for" said Mr Huhne.

The key players in the site - the cinema, bowling, and family restaurant - are already signed up and Mr Buffone said that he was encouraged by the amount of interest being shown in the remaining areas of the development.

"One of the greatest pleasures of a leader in local government is to see a great project like this come to fruition after so many years of trying to attract developers. I am really thrilled by the progress and it will make Eastleigh sparkle this Christmas and for many years to come" said Cllr House.

"The Swan centre is an increasingly successful retail development and I have been particularly pleased that the number of visitors has been outpacing nearby rivals like Southampton. Eastleigh is well placed to thrive as a retail and entertainment centre" said Mr Buffone.

When the development is complete, there will be the same number of parking spaces as before underneath the complex, in addition to those on the Swan Centre, encouraging more visitors to use both the Centre and High Street and Market Street.