Fresh plea issued to save former Telford cinema

Wellington Town Council has been asked by Labour councillors to do more to help the Clifton Group, who have been battling to save the old cinema in the town.

Councillor Lee Carter has tabled a motion urging the town council to look at setting up a group to examine the support the council and partners can offer the group.

He has asked for funding to be made available so it can assist the Clifton Group in developing a robust business plan.

Councillor Carter said: "I first met with the Clifton Group in February and was struck by the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm that the group have for this project. It would be a unique development for the whole borough. I feel certain the town council should be playing a bigger role in trying to galvanise partners and the community behind the project.

"We can't deliver the project, but we certainly can play an active role in helping to try and make sure the dreams become a reality."

He has also asked that the Clifton Group be allocated some form of financial support.

The Clifton Group has more than 500 members and it hopes to purchase the building and turn it into an arts, culture and community venue for the whole of Telford.

Their attempts to secure the freehold of the building have been stalled after it emerged the building is under offer from a developer. Councillor Angela McClements has backed the motion put forward by Councillor Carter.

She said: "The Clifton project could be an important part of the overall regeneration of Wellington, which has recently been boosted by £200,000 from Telford & Wrekin Council.

"The Clifton project is an ambitious plan that would complement an ambitious town like Wellington. And therefore I will be urging colleagues to support the motion."

The cinema closed in 1989 and was part of the Dunelm Mill store which shut in 2012 when the firm opened a new unit on the Forge Retail Park near Telford town centre.

The town council will vote on the motion at its meeting tomorrow.