Save the Odeon

From Chester Wiki

[edit] Introduction

In June 2006, it was announced that the Odeon chain of cinemas had sold the building that houses Chester's Odeon cinema in Northgate Street to Brook Leisure Group, which owns a chain of nightclubs around the UK. Under the current terms of this sale, Odeon Cinemas will lease back the building until January 2008. Thereafter, it will cease to be a cinema, thus depriving Chester of its last remaining city-centre picture house.

The announcement fuelled fears that the Odeon, an Art Deco Grade II listed building, would be converted into yet another nightclub, to add to the dozen or so already dotted around the city centre. Part of the outrage was due to the fact that the Odeon offers one of the few outlets for evening entertainment for the over-25s in Chester, apart from dining out or drinking.

Cestrians were astonished at the news, given that local cinema audiences have been on the rise in recent years.

The campaign to save the Odeon began immediately, supported by three key bodies: the Chester Chronicle, MP Christine Russell and Chester City Council. The Chronicle has been covering the story on an almost weekly basis and asking readers to write in and add support. Christine Russell has been spotted a number of times in Northgate Street with a clipboard, collecting signatures on a petition (she claims to have collected thousands - if anyone knows more on this, please add it here!). And the City Council expressed concern over any change of use or sub-division of the building after the Odeon's lease runs out in January 2008. Following the announcement, Andy Farrall, the city council's strategic planning director, said the government had changed planning laws to ensure any such change of use would require full planning permission. If Brook was to go ahead with nightclub plans, objectors could lodge concerns to Chester City Council. Farrell admitted that the council had not put in a bid when the building was originally put on the market as it had been unaware it was for sale. There is strong public opposition to conversion of the building, which would be difficult to obtain permission for, as the inside of the cinema is listed as well as the outside.

In March 2007, the council stated that they were seriously investigating options to buy the building from Brook Leisure and retain the Odeon as an independent cinema cum multi-arts centre. Meanwhile, Brook Leisure has said it has no interest in selling the building and intends to convert it into shops, a restaurant and bar.

Update 17 May 2007: Independent arthouse cinema chain, City Screen, has expressed interest in taking over the Odeon. The move would require Chester City Council to broker a deal with Brook Leisure. The cinema is set to close on 14 June. Brook Leisure takes full control of the premises on 30 June. It is currently preparing to submit a planning application to the council.

[edit] Links

To add your support to save the Odeon as a cinema, you can send your views to the following places:

Email Christine Russell MP at russellcm@parliament.uk

Email Andy Farrall (Head of council Planning) at planning@chester.gov.uk

Write to the Chester Chronicle