National finals for nominated cinema (From Gazette Series)

National finals for nominated cinema

11:18am Friday 28th July 2006 in News By Liza-Jane Gillespie

A LOCAL cinema will be taking Wotton-under-Edge on to the national stage later this year.

The Wotton Electric Picture House which reopened last November after a three year closure has not only won an award in the South West Region Market Town Awards Scheme for social and community but will now represent the South West region in the national finals of the competition.

The announcement came after representatives from the cinema, Wotton-under-Edge Town Regeneration Partnership and the town council attended an award ceremony earlier this month.

June Cordwell, chairman of Wotton-under-Edge Town Regeneration Partnership who nominated the cinema for the award, said: "I'm delighted that they have received this award.

"Funds have been raised through sheer hard work and the business plan has been meticulous. Congratulations to all those involved.

"This will hopefully generate more visitors to the town and will keep the cinema going."

Since its reopening last autumn the Wotton cinema has become a massive success and after only eight months it is a popular local attraction with more than 8,000 visitors.

The cinema has shown a range of films from the classics like Close Encounter to new releases. The cinema has also put on themed evenings and more recently the cinema opened its doors to Wotton's young football fans who wanted to watch all of England's World Cup games on a big screen.

James Hassett, chief executive of the Market and Coastal Towns Association, said: "The Electric Picture House is a project that really captures all that is great about locally-led initiatives, incorporating a high level of community engagement and innovation.

"The judging panel were extremely impressed that such a project has been maintained as a viable and expanding business within a small market town."

During its refurbishment the Wotton cinema received many local grants from the Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance Scheme, Gloucestershire Market Towns Forum and Stroud District Council but the cinema has recently been able to donate more than £300 back into the Wotton community helping other organisations get off the ground.