A DECADE after inheriting a stagnant leisure industry, Peter Stybelski believes Bolton is now a "happening place."

In total, £40 million a year now floods into Bolton through tourism and more than 17,000 people are employed in the town's leisure and retail industry.

Mr Stybelski is leaving his job as director of leisure services with Bolton Council to become chief executive of Carlisle City Council, but is convinced he is leaving the town in an extremely healthy position and is rather sad to be going.

He spoke to the BEN after we revealed how the leisure and retail industry in Bolton had boomed over the last 12 months and how important the industry is to the town's economy. "Bolton's image is much more positive than it was 10 years ago. It is dynamic and it is viewed by people as a happening town," said Mr Stybelski, who joined the council in 1989.

"But the future is even more exciting. It's a good time to be involved with Bolton because it is poised to become an even better place.

"The Commonwealth Games will be big here, the Smithills project is exciting - I'll be very sad to leave."

Strategy

Mr Stybelski listed many projects he has been proud to be involved with, such as the building of the Water Place, leisure centres in Harper Green and Turton ,and the construction of Middlebrook, as well attracting private companies to the town such as the David Lloyd Fitness Centre.

"It might sound a bit boring but we had a strategy when I arrived and it has worked," he said. "There is the fun side of leisure, but there is also the serious side such as employment and health.

"One of the most important things is that we ensure leisure services are available to everyone, especially those families who aren't so well off and to the minority groups, which we have tried hard to do.

"It is a growth industry to the point where most of the economic development in Bolton had had a leisure component in it."

Mr Stybelski finishes work with Bolton Council on New Year's Eve and will move to Carlisle with his wife, Lorna, and son, Henry, soon after.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.