AN extra £70,000 has been pumped into the preparation work for a £40 million sports, leisure and entertainment complex on the site of Abbey Stadium.

Redditch Council is to inject the money on top of £300,000 which has already been allocated for legal fees, consultant fees and officers' time.

The proposed development will include a snowdome, an ice rink, a multi-screen cinema, swimming pools, a training centre and a hotel.

The additional money will be put towards planning fees, independent consultants and staff who have been involved in developing the project.

Independent consultants have been brought in to avoid any problems with planning permission and to ensure the development goes ahead as planned.

Work on creating a bypass around Bordesley is also being carried out as part of the scheme. Plans for a second railway stop have also been mooted.

The council is working in partnership with developer Atlantic and the whole project is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.