Work starts on Stafford cinema complex

Workmen and a bulldozer have turned up at the Bridge Street site at the start of this week to start months of work to build the six-screen Odeon.

Scaffolding has gone up around the old Express & Star office in Bridge Street - which will be brought down in the near future to pave the way for the new development.

Developers LXB Properties say that the cinema is expected to ge handed over to Odeon in around March next year.

It comes after work to turn the town's Kingsmead site into a retail park started last week.

Morrisons pulled out of the development last year following months of uncertainty.

But the saga could be close to being over after work to convert it into five units - including Just for Pets and B&M Bargains - started on March 20.

Work is expected to be complete by the end of July.

With the huge North Walls car park being shut, shops in the area reported dips in profits as high as 80 per cent.

But the news has been welcomed by nearby independent retailers.

Dee Mellor, who runs Slater Street Toys, said: "Hopefully its all coming to an end now. Workmen are in there now and must be working on the interior of it.

"Trade hasn't started picking up yet but we've just go to wait and see now, and hope when it opens we can keep going.

"I've heard work will be finished in July so the sooner it opens the better really."

When work begins on the build of cinema is scheme it complete the final phase of the Riverside scheme within the centre of town.

Among the restaurants coming to the area include Chiquito, Prezzo and Coal Grill and Bar.

Revolution, Nando's and Frankie and Benny's have already moved in.

Stafford's current cinema - a stones throw away on the Newport Road - is currently on the market.