A WARRINGTON businessman has called upon a Government planning inspector to approve two different plans for the town centre.

The inspector is considering two multi-million pound projects, including plans for cinemas, housing, shops, restaurants, offices, a hotel and car parking.

The Winwick Partnership is putting forward its case for the derelict area opposite Warrington Central station.

And Big Apple is pushing blueprints for Time Square.

However, Colin Daniels, chief executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce, has urged inspector Nicholas Freeman not to consider the blueprints as rival developments but as two schemes that could each benefit the town.

He said: "The thing is it shouldn't be either/or - the town centre needs both of these developments.

"The ideal of people living in the town centre will, in my view, demand something is done with them in mind.

"But we also need both developments to attract people from outside Warrington.

"If Manchester City Council had to rely on Mancunians it would close down tomorrow - people go into Manchester to use their resources and that is what we want Warrington to have.

"Planning restrictions permitting, I want Warrington to attract people who come out here to Gemini to visit Marks and Spencer and Ikea to also come to shop and spend time and money in the town."

The borough council has already approved both of the schemes, but it is expected that only one will get the thumbs up after The Halliwell Jones Stadium inquiry.

But Mr Daniels disagrees with the council that in practicality only one cinema should be built.

He said: "The people who operate these cinemas will clearly take a view on what they can and can't commission. It is for the operators to make that commercial decision.

"We used to have any number of cinemas in the town centre - three of them were big cinemas.

"It is not whether Warrington can support two cinemas, it is whether the region can, and whether we can attract people from a 45-mile radius to the town."