3:28pm Tuesday 16th February 2010
By Alexandra Barham
THE cinema dream in St Albans is tantalisingly close to realisation, with a grand total of nearly £800,000 in the kitty.
Founder of the Rex cinema in Berkhamsted James Hannaway is brimming with confidence that the £1 million needed to transform the dilapidated Odeon in London Road into a working cinema can now be raised.
More than £760,000 has accumulated in the piggy bank, with promises of a further £200,000 to settle the deal.
Mr Hannaway told the Review today: "We are very close and we have already got promises of at least £200,000 to come. It has gone from looking not so hopeful to being very hopeful - I'm very pleased."
Reiterating his thanks to the people of St Albans, Mr Hannaway said: "We will do it, my head is back on. From being at rock bottom two weeks ago, and amid all the unbelievable hurried donations, loans, investments and trust to beat the deadline, it has taken one spark to wake and remind me how important this is to you, and how much time, as well as money, you have given.
"The best news is we can buy the site with £1million of real St Albans money, small and huge, and all extraordinary.
"This is a whole city putting its money where its heart is. So, I owe you the will and energy to make it work.
"Thank you for your individual leaps of unprecedented trust and faith."
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