ONE of the last decisions taken by the council’s cabinet was to give approval to a £50million scheme which will see a cinema, bars, restaurants and cafes come to the town centre.

Officers have now signed deals with architects, legal advisors, leisure advisors and project managers to enable the scheme to progress.

The council is in discussions with the potential cinema operator.

The plans for the redevelopment of East Square and Town Walk were dealt a major blow in 2014 when the Eastgate Centre revealed rival plans for a cinema. The Eastgate plans hit a stumbling block when Infrared – which bought the centre for £86.6million – struggled to find an operator

The council paid £8million buying up Freedom House to give it control of about a quarter of the town centre.

The next stage of the project will be funded by the regeneration account.