LOCAL SUPPLIER APPOINTED AT VENTURE FIELDS

Widnes’ new £10 million leisure scheme, as part of the Widnes Waterfront regeneration, is moving forward apace, with local firms both providing supplies and carrying out the final stages of construction.

The UK’s leading regeneration specialist St. Modwen, which is developing the scheme in partnership with Halton Borough Council, has appointed local business Plasmor Ltd to provide the concrete blockwork at the site.

Plasmor, which is based just a few hundred yards from the development on Tanhouse Lane, is working on all of the units at the site, including the ice rink set to be operated by Planet Ice and the bowling alley, Widnes Superbowl.

Venture Fields is already 95% pre-let and will create a new focus for family-orientated entertainment in the borough. The scheme also boasts a five-screen cinema operated by Reel Cinemas, a Frankie and Benny’s Restaurant and a 60-bedroom hotel with an adjoining 7,500 sq ft restaurant.

Richard Bakes, development manager, St. Modwen said: “Venture Fields is really starting to take shape now. Work on-site is advancing ahead of schedule and local people are getting a much greater sense of what the scheme will bring to the area.

“Plasmor is based right on our doorstep at Venture Fields, which provides an excellent source of high-quality concrete products. We were keen to use contractors based in the North West as much as possible, and have sourced much of the work from the region including firms from Leigh, Manchester, and Blackpool.”

Martin Ward, Commercial Manager of Plasmor (Halton) Limited, said: “As a local company with a manufacturing site on Widnes Waterfront, employing local people, we are delighted to have been chosen to supply the concrete building blocks used in the construction of Venture Fields.

“This development brings continuing improvements to the area and will offer new leisure activities to the people of the community as well as bringing in vital investment to the borough. We wish all concerned every success with this project.”

Venture fields is set to welcome its first visitors in autumn 2011.