Thousands back bid to save former Clifton cinema

Campaigners presented the signatures to Councillor Richard Overton on the last day of consultations for Telford & Wrekin Council's local plan.

Fiona Hunter, director of The Clifton Project, said the group would continue to fight developers as long as there was a chance of saving the Wellington cinema.

She said: "The petition included 600 electronic signatures and the rest were hard copies.

"We collated all the signatures in and around Wellington, mostly over the weekend.

"It's not like we've been all over Telford so we feel it is a significant number from the local community.

"We felt it was important to hand it over on the last day of the local plan and it seems to have raised more interest within the council."

The campaign to save the old cinema, which has been empty for three years after furnishings store Dunelm moved to the Forge Retail Park, has been backed by playwright and film director Mike Leigh, best known for his 1977 comedy of manners Abigail's Party.

Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis has also pledged his support to the campaign, signing up for a share issue which has raised more than £32,000 for the fund.

The campaign received a setback in July when a "sold" sign appeared on the building.

The identity of the buyer is not yet known and no planning application has been lodged relating to the site.

The group has also set up the Clifton Film Festival, which will run every Saturday night throughout October, to help raise much-needed funds for their campaign.

Some £500,000 needs to be raised to allow the group to buy the building, which it wants to turn into a community arts centre with a 100-seat digital cinema.

Five films will be shown during the festival, which will be held at Belmont Hall in New Street, Wellington.

The festival opens on October 3, with a showing of Still Alice, the poignant tale of a linguistics professor who has been diagosed with Alzheimer's.

The following Saturday, Gwyneth Paltrow stars in the 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, while The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith will be shown on October 17

The 2010 version of Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, will be shown on October 24, with a 19-year-old Alice returning to the magical world of her childhood.

The film festival draws to a close on Halloween with a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Doors open at 7pm for all the films and screenings begin at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced £5, can be bought on the door, on the group's stall on Wellington Market, 9am to 1pm, or visiting www.theclifton.org