Businesses joining fight to save the Picturedrome cinema in Bognor

The town's chamber of commerce, the TBI business network and Best Of Bognor website all want the proposals for the Picturedrome to be rejected.

Monday's meeting of the chamber's executive committee unanimously voted to object to the scheme.

Chairman Nick Stuart-Nicolson said he was dismayed by the proposals.

"The argument there are other local cinema opportunities carries no weight at all," he said.

"Chichester is often overcrowded and the seven or eight-mile journey from Bognor can, at times, be extremely difficult to negotiate.

"Coupled with this, should we ever see the new cinema complex as part of the promised Bognor regeneration, this will undoubtedly be some considerable number of years in the future."

Stephanie Bayley, the chamber's secretary, said: "I am totally opposed to this."

Vice-chairman Peter Wells said: "If Arun District Council members pass this, they will need to resign."

The viewpoint was reinforced by Mike Stevens, chairman of the Bognor TBI business network of some 30 members.

He also leads the Best Of Bognor website with about 150 businesses.

"The most important thing from the business point of view is the cinema brings people into Bognor and its presence makes them stay longer in the town.

"Every time they get in their cars and drive to Chichester," he continued, "they are lost to Bognor for the rest of the day with their spending power.

"People feel the cinema is an important part of the town. It helps to identify us as a town.

"And as a resident, I take my grandchildren there to watch films."

Bognor Pier Company, owner of the Picturedrome building, has submitted a planning application to the district council to convert the 400-seat main auditorium to three flats.

The firm also wants to enlarge the existing, currently unused flat in the Canada Grove building.

It has also submitted a listed building consent '“ after the Picturedrome became a Grade II listed building last month '“ for the conversion and enlargement work.

The consent also seeks to demolish those parts of the building's western side which were added after it was built in 1885, restore the original window openings from that year and rebuild a rear fire escape.

The 80-seat small screen and the cafe would remain. The company maintains the Picturedrome is unviable and unable to compete with multiplexes.

A public meeting to discuss the proposals has been called for next Tuesdayby the cinema's operator, the Picturedrome Electric Theatre Co.

It will take place at 8pm in the main screen in place of a film.

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