Odeon's future in balance (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Odeon's future in balance

5:10pm Tuesday 5th June 2007 in News By Sally-Anne Johnson

HERITAGE campaigners came face-to-face with developers who want to knock down the former Odeon cinema and use the land to build flats.

The latest show-down came at a hearing into the future of the Art Deco building, which developer Wattsdown has been trying to demolish since 2003.

Its planning application was refused by St Albans District Council in December, on the grounds that the scheme was not suitable for the conservation area, but Wattsdown appealed to the Government's planning inspectorate over the decision.

On Thursday, inspector Brian Rogers heard from both Wattsdown and St Albans Civic Society, which is desperate to save the 1930s building and restore it to its former glory. Also present at the hearing was student Ben Stevens who has collected hundreds of signatures from people keen to see the Odeon saved, and James Hannaway, who restored the Rex Cinema, Berkhamsted.

Gavin Cooper from the council's development control team told the hearing that London Road was the primary route into the city and was home to a number of socially and historically important buildings. But Mr Rogers questioned what had changed since the last public inquiry in 2005, when the council assented to the building being demolished if a suitable building was proposed.

The civic society's Marian Hammant said: "One of the things that has changed is public opinion. Over the last year we've had an enormous campaign.

"When you go out into the street and talk to people you see the affection this cinema is held in. In terms of what it would cost, we've thought about some kind of share proposal. If something like that was mooted I think we would be surprised at public reaction to it."

But Mike Moult from Wattsdown said: "The council has agreed that this area should be residential. It was concluded a couple of years ago that it was not a landmark building and not worthy of retention.

"I believe that the building closed, among other reasons, because it no longer complied with fire regulations."

Mr Cooper said the council, whose officers had recommended approval of the most recent application, had issues with the roofline, stair tower, balconies and materials. He added that the design did not respect the "symmetry and rhythm" of the conservation area.

Wattsdown says it has addressed issues that the council had asked it to following the 2005 inquiry, particularly the overlooking homes in Paxton Road and Lower Paxton Road, and said the condemnation of the its latest plans for new flats was "spurious".

Mr Rogers' decision is expected in four weeks' time.