IT'S been 13 years in the making but Southampton's shopping revolution finally arrives tomorrow.

The eagerly-awaited opening of the £295 million WestQuay centre will have a monumental effect on the region's economy, according to its promoters.

Two million people with an annual retail spending power of £2.3 billion live within a 45-minute drive of the complex.

The benefits go far beyond the 3,500 jobs that the centre has created following a huge recruitment and training drive.

Southampton is expected to rocket from being the 27th to becoming the 12th biggest shopping destination in the UK, as shopper numbers soar by 46 per cent.

The city will be on a par with Croydon, Bristol, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

About 14 million people will visit the centre every year, with a rise of 47 per cent of retail trade attracted to Southampton.

The city will dominate the region, with twice as many regular shoppers as Portsmouth, Bournemouth or Guildford.

City council leader June Bridle said: "WestQuay represents a major milestone in the renaissance of Southampton as a city.

"Urban regeneration, successful major events and our continued success in areas as diverse as commerce, education, research and leisure, are all helping to create a city of national and international standing."

Already, City Shopmobility, the service for the disabled and elderly, based in Castle Way, has received record-breaking advance bookings for the occasion.

WestQuay spokeswoman Vanessa Forster said: "The feeling of excitement and anticipation as our team finalises WestQuay's last-minute preparations is difficult to describe.

"We have all worked very hard for an awfully long time in planning the opening of WestQuay, and the realisation suddenly dawns in all of us that the vision has almost been delivered.

"Tomorrow, the whole team will be able to celebrate with a feeling of pure relief, excitement and pride at the contribution they have all made to the urban renaissance of a city centre."

The complex opens its entrances at Above Bar and Arundel Circus at 8am, with the majority of kiosks and some restaurants serving breakfast in the Food Terrace.

Formal ceremonies begin at 9am with speeches in the main piazza-type square by joint developers Hammerson and Barclays followed by councillors June Bridle and John Arnold.

Southampton mayor Peter Wakeford cuts the ribbon just before 9.30am when the shops throw open their doors.

At 12.30pm, lively dance and drama routines will be performed by local schoolchildren.

A colourful parade of national and international acrobats culminating in a breathtaking aerial finale specially choreographed for WestQuay, completes the festivities at 6pm before the centre closes two hours later.

With so many shoppers anticipated tomorrow, centre managers are urging people to use public transport.

WestQuay has joined forces with the city council and Red Funnel Ferries to launch a free shuttle bus called the CityLink and CityLoop services.

The CityLink will leave every ten minutes throughout the day and will run from the central railway station to Town Quay pier via WestQuay. The CityLoop route will run every half hour serving Town Quay, the city centre, central railway station, the coach station, The Quays leisure centre and Leisureworld.

First Southampton is providing the buses, which will all be low-floor vehicles.

The shopping centre now has its own website at www.west-quay.co.uk

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