Labour activist: 'We still need a multiplex cinema in St Albans' (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Labour activist: 'We still need a multiplex cinema in St Albans'

4:45pm Monday 15th February 2010 in

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The restoration of the Odeon in London Road, which is teetering on the edge of reality, should not blur ambitions for a multiplex cinema in St Albans, a Labour activist has insisted.

Cinema entrepreneur James Hannaway is within touching distance of stamping a £1million deal to buy the run-down art deco building and restore it to a working cinema, named the Alpha.

But with attentions focused on raising £300,000 to make the purchase, author of the Labour party's newsletter Andrew Rose, who ruffled the feathers of heritage campaigners last week with an article suggesting the Odeon would only serve the needs of a select few, insisted we should not lose sight of a multiplex in the city.

He told the Review: "The proposed cinema would not meet the needs of local families or young people. Let us examine the facts surrounding this statement.

"Everything so far implies that the Rex in Berkhamsted is the model for the proposed Alpha.

"The pricing policy of the Rex is clearly not aimed at attracting families or teenagers.

"Such concessionary tickets as are available still make it a far more expensive option than other nearby cinemas. The Rex does show a small number of children's films on a very occasional basis.

"However, it does not show the majority of children's cartoons and the number of showings is clearly not at a level that could meet local demand.

"It shows none of the teen comedies or horror films that my teenage daughter and her friends travel elsewhere to watch.

"I believe that its pricing and programming policy is actually aimed at attracting an audience who would rather not watch films surrounded by children and teenagers.

"The sort of people like Mrs Hammant and I who attend films at the Alban Arena. When repeated surveys showed local young people wanted a cinema in St Albans as their number one amenity they meant the sort of cinema thay could walk to with groups of friends to see their sort of films.

"I stand by my assertion that the Alpha as proposed will not reduce by even one per cent the number of families travelling to Garston or Hatfield to visit the cinema.

"Nor will it lead to any fewer teenagers waiting in the rain for an unreliable bus service while their parents worry if they will get home safely.

"To meet that need we require the sort of cinema development which Mrs Hammant opposed and which as a former member of the Civic Society I am aware from conversations many of its members oppose on principle. The Alpha is a worthy project. Just don't pretend it is an inclusive or populist one."

The cinema project has raised a staggering £708,382 to date.