Vandals targeting neglected Odeon (From York Press)

Vandals targeting neglected Odeon

11:16am Monday 7th July 2008

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DELAYS to the redevelopment of York’s Odeon cinema have left the site a target for vandals, it has been claimed.

Micklegate ward councillor Sandy Fraser is calling for progress to be made on the reopening of the cinema, in Blossom Street.

Coun Fraser claims he and his fellow ward councillors have been pressing for action to get the cinema reopened – but he says delays have left the site a target for vandals. “It was good news when it became known that a new owner was to get the former Odeon cinema up and running again, but progress has been slow and things at the street level have begun to deteriorate,” he said.

“The blue shutters which adorn the building are unsightly and are the subject of graffiti, which make things worse.”

The art deco cinema has stood empty and boarded up since closing its doors to customers in August 2006.

It was shut down by Odeon despite a petition signed by 13,000 readers of The Press, calling for it to be refurbished and stay open.

There seemed little prospect of it ever reopening as a cinema until independent cinema chain Reel Cinema (UK) Ltd revealed last summer that it was planning to buy the complex and restore it to its former glory.

The company said initially that it hoped to complete the purchase and reopen the cinema to the public during last year’s summer holidays, prior to the start of refurbishment work.

But the doors remained closed and it later emerged that the building was in too poor a condition to be able to reopen until after the revamp.

Coun Fraser said: “When they took over the lease the new owners, Reel Cinema, said it was to reopen the Odeon as a working cinema and start refurbishing it in the summer of last year.

“Apparently, however, they have been busy opening another cinema in Andover, and, if they keep to their plans, then we should see progress on the Odeon quite soon. “The cinema is an integral part of the area and when complete, should be a focal point, which improves the general feel of the Micklegate and Blossom Street area. “I have been pressing the council to do its bit to help traders in Micklegate and other peripheral streets by helping to rejuvenate them through a number of initiatives. “One measure that has been agreed is that the council is to alert Park&Ride users, through First York, coming into the city from Askham Bar that they can alight in Blossom Street and walk down Micklegate, which I think will help. “It is a difficult time, but we must do what we can to increase visitor numbers to what is a unique street in the city.”

Have your say

What else can be done to keep the Odeon in use for York?

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