Wellington cinema plans move a step ahead as application lodged
An ambitious scheme to bring a cinema back to Wellington has moved a step closer after a planning application was lodged with the borough council.
Campaigners had hoped to bring The Clifton, in Bridge Road, back into use but developers MCO Marylebone want to build 52 flats and retail space on the site.
The Clifton Community Arts Centre group now wants to push ahead with its plans to take on the town’s former HSBC bank to turn into a cinema.
The group has submitted a planning application to Telford & Wrekin Council asking for permission to turn the old bank into a cinema, arts and community centre.
More details of the scheme have been revealed in a report lodged with the plans.
It says: "There are nine rooms on the first floor and eight on the second floor.
"Currently, we envisage these as multi-purpose rooms and will be a combination of workshops, studios, rehearsal rooms, meeting rooms, exhibition areas etc at the demand of the community as well as an office and administration area but no such room will be further under-let to any party as the under-lease will prohibit that.
"The ground floor will have a café/bar area with a small stage as shown in the plan so that various events could be shown there with different seating being installed from storage at the back of the ground floor and an 80-seat cinema will be established in what was previously a back office area behind the old banking hall."
It says that many community groups have shown an interest in using the proposed facilities.
The report continues: "The use proposed offers the potential to kickstart the regeneration of the town centre which is also consistent with the Pride in Your High Street policy of the borough council."
Fiona Hunter, one of the directors of The Clifton Community Arts Centre group, said: "We are drawing up the lease. We are moving forward and we are very close to an agreement.
"A change of use planning application has gone in which we hope will go smoothly through the planning process."
The Clifton was last used as a cinema in the late 1980s.
A planning application was recently submitted to turn the site into homes and shops.
Telford & Wrekin Council is expected to consider the planning applications in the coming months.
For more information on The Clifton Community Arts Centre group visit theclifton.org
