Campaigner's dismay over sale of former Telford cinema
The chairman of the group trying to breathe new life into a former Telford cinema has spoken of his disappointment that the borough council has "not done enough" to back the project.
People in Wellington have spent several years trying to turn the former Clifton building into a multi-use centre for artists and musicians.
But now 'sold' signs have appeared on the front of the empty building, and members of the Clifton Community Arts Centre fear they could be too late to save it for the town.
In a letter to the Shropshire Star, group chairman Bill Graham accused Telford & Wrekin Council of having an attitude of "benevolent tolerance" to the Clifton plans while actively supporting other projects in the borough.
Bill Graham, chairman of the Clifton Community Arts Centre, writes on the future of the former Clifton Cinema in Wellington.
"I have been pleased and gratified to see the number of letters appearing in the Shropshire Star in support of the Clifton project, encouraging the borough council to act and deploring the possible loss of this iconic building. Thank you to all who have raised the flag.
"For over three years an energetic group has worked tirelessly to promote the concept of using the Clifton site to create a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural centre in Wellington.
"That group has also amassed several hundred supporters across all sections of the community who have been prepared to contribute financially towards the project, believing that it can and will enhance the lives of the population not just of Wellington, but of the whole borough.
"Why does Telford need this? Because there is no open access building in the borough where people with interests in music, the arts, culture, performance and arts education can gather, focus, interact and use to both inform and entertain not just the general population but also to support young people with aspirations and talent, whether that be in performance, new media, visual or expressive arts. Telford is, to all intents, a cultural desert devoid of opportunities for creativity in its widest sense.
