Boost for bid to bring Telford cinema back to life

Wellington Town Council has this week agreed to give £5,000 to set up a working group to develop a business plan for the future of the former Clifton Cinema.

And directors of the 500-member Clifton Community Arts Centre group, which is trying to buy the building, say the decision must translate into action.

Fiona Hunter, director of the board of the Clifton Group, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the motion being carried by almost the whole council, it was almost unanimous.

"We see this as a first and very important step towards securing the site. It must be transferred urgently to the working group finding the funding required to develop the site as an arts and community centre for the people of Telford to prevent it falling into the hands of the developers, who are currently showing interest in the purchase of the site.

"We are delighted and we thank the town council for the work they have done to bring it to the table but now it needs to transfer into the means to develop the site.

"Councillor Lee Carter has been charged by the council to set up a working party of councillors and other qualified people to help us create a robust business plan. That is urgent and will be set up quickly. Once that has happened we will find funding to purchase the site.

"We cannot do anything else until the site is secured."

It is unknown how much money would be needed to buy the building from Dunelm.

The Clifton closed in 1989 and has stood empty for three years following the departure of the Dunelm furnishings shop to Telford's Forge Retail Park.

Plans to turn the building, which once had 1,300 seats, into an arts venue have been gathering steam, but after a developer expressed interest in turning the site into housing, they received a lift this week.

Wellington Town Council has agreed to give £5,000 to set up a working group to develop a business plan for the future of the building.

Members hope Telford & Wrekin Council will put in a matching amount.