THE Odeon is to close despite the vigorous campaign by the Evening Press, film lovers and art deco cinema architecture enthusiasts (April 1).

Although the owners say the decision has been taken "with regret", they have effectively spent the past two years running the building into the ground.

The issue over the original sign has been exposed as a diversion. No doubt there will be a lot of finger pointing at the council and conservationists. Point the finger at me if you wish. I believed that a sensitive refurbishment was the way forward.

Worryingly, the time the bosses spent supposedly assessing its economic viability included disposing of the cinema to a "property management company", details of which they confusingly didn't have available to the Press! I wonder why?

Any sale should have merited notification to the city council, especially when it concerns a Grade II-listed building whose future is so uncertain.

Odeon bosses have shown little interest in York residents, with their initial refusal to accept our petition and the subsequent "no comments" from their spokeswoman.

What is more telling is the fact that the whole Odeon circuit is now owned, not by an entertainment company, but a private equity firm, more concerned in property development than property investment.

We seem to have lost the sense of cinema showmanship in this country. Having returned from a holiday to Australia, it's refreshing to see operators there treat the same historic buildings as assets.

There are screens where you can have an a la carte meal brought to your seat, or enjoy a glass of wine in an exclusive lounge area.

Here it's easier to sit at home with a DVD than drive to the multiplex shed on your local industrial estate, where you're herded in and out like livestock.

Tim Addyman,

East Lane,

Shipton-by-Beningbrough,

York.

Updated: 09:20 Wednesday, April 05, 2006