New hope for cinema plans (From Gazette Series)

New hope for cinema plans

9:00am Monday 26th March 2007 in News By Alex Ross

HOPES of a cinema in Yate are alight and flickering after town shopping centre owners revealed they were investigating possible sites.

Four years ago the Gazette and Northavon MP Steve Webb led a campaign to have a cinema built in Yate Shopping Centre - but up nothing concrete has yet been decided.

However owners Dominion Trust have assured the Gazette this week that they have got the momentum going again to bring a cinema to the town.

Shopping centre manager Steve Fawke said: "Since Dominion bought the centre 18 months ago, plans for a cinema have come to an advanced stage.

"We have identified there is a clear demand for a cinema and we are currently looking at possible sites to place it.

"It would form part of our wider plan which sees the building of a Tesco Extra store."

Mr Fawke said the trust was keen to act on what shoppers wanted in their shopping centre.

He said: "When people asked for greengrocers and a butchers we responded by bringing them to the town.

"People have asked for a cinema and we are desperate to set one up in the town centre, but these things do take time."

The Cinema4Yate campaign was started by Mr Webb in 2003 after residents highlighted a cinema as one of the amenities that they would most like to see in the town centre.

Mr Webb said: "I am delighted a cinema in Yate is still on the shopping centre's agenda.

"Things have obviously been delayed because of Tesco and health centre plans at the centre but I am glad to hear the cinema is still in line.

"Many people, not only in Yate but in surrounding towns and villages, would value a local cinema that meant they didn't have to drive miles to an out-of-town venue.

"I will be looking to working with the centre owners over plan for a cinema."

To find out more about the campaign or enlist support visit www.cinema4Yate.com.