VOTE: Residents to get final say on the future of our cinema

Town councillors agreed on Tuesday to defer buying the popular entertainment venue with two screens and nearly 400 seats until they had sought the backing of local people.

The council members had been asked to approve borrowing 756,523.50 from the Public Works Loan Board to take over the Grade II listed building.

But fears about burdening the council with the 30,260 annual repayments for the next 25 years caused them to put off the final vote until June 21.

The debate took place behind closed doors in the town hall because of the sensitive financial information involved.

But councillors spoke after about the matter. Paul Wells said: "We can't go into a matter like this lightly. More detailed information needs to be provided.

"There was a general concern among councillors we need to involve the electorate in our four wards (Pevensey, Marine, Hotham and Orchard) to find out what they would like us to do.

"Buying the cinema would be a financial responsibility the council would have to bear for a lengthy period of time."

Jennifer Gillibrand said: "It's important the council find out how the electorate feel about the cinema and whether we should save it."

But Jim Brooks said: "The electors will want us to take a decision as soon as possible. I am sure they will be still be supportive of us taking on the Picturedrome when they have had all the available information."

If the town council does go ahead with the purchase, it would buy the cinema's owner, the Bognor Pier Company, which would give it control of the building. This would allow councillors to lease the former cafe, which is empty, as well as the small shop next door to offset some of the costs.

The uncertainty over the Picturedrome's future became public in February 2009. A rent dispute about increased payments broke out between the building's owner, the Bognor Pier Company, and its operator, the Picturedrome Electric Theatre.

This culminated in the owners sending in the bailiffs last September.

The cinema closed for two days before it re-opened on a three-monthly lease. The arrangement continues. The current deal expires on May 19.

A bid on behalf of the pier company to turn the main screen into flats was rejected by district councillors last autumn.

Picturedrome operator managing director Adam Cunard warned the cinema

could not continue on three-monthly leases.

"This uncertainty has been going on for over a year now. It's getting harder and harder to carry on. I want to invest in new equipment for the cinema, but I can't spend any money until there is a longer lease in place.

"This is not a criticism of the town council, but the situation is also a shame for the staff who need to know if they can pay their mortgages and bills," he said.

Mr Cunard is also a town councillor, but stayed away from Tuesday's meeting.

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