Save our old cinema (From Echo)

Save our old cinema

8:14am Friday 30th May 2008 in News By Mike Miners

JAZZ trumpeter Digby Fairweather has called for the "very last of the real cinemas" in Southend to be saved.

Digby, who is already a freeman of the borough, wants the former Palace Cinema in Ness Road, Shoeburyness, to be turned into a cinema and cultural centre.

He wants the near 100-year-old building to add to the "historic elegance" of the nearby Garrison estate.

He said: "This is the very last of the surviving real cinemas and the brand-new Garrison estate is enormous now.

"What's noticeable is the lack of local cultural centres to serve this huge new community." He added: "Would it not be a fine idea for this upmarket gathering of people to have their own cinema, because it's a long way to the rather soul-less multiplex in Victoria Circus?

"It would be a lovely addition to the historic elegance of the Garrison estate."

Last month the Echo reported the building, formerly used as a shop selling camping gear, has been bought by a company, represented by Bateman Property Agents, which intends to build flats.

However, Digby, an internationally renowned jazz musician, wants the building preserved for the future.

Built in 1913, it was hugely popular with the soldiers of the garrison, but the last film shown there was around 40 years ago. It then became a camping shop, which closed early this year.

Digby added: "To accommodate the packed audiences a first-floor balcony was built and that partly survives, along with the original projection box."

Paul Cotgrove, spokes-man for Leigh Film Society, said: "The society has no knowledge that the old cinema in Shoebury may be available for holding film screenings again.

"If this is the case, we would certainly be interested in meeting with the owners of the building, although we feel it is probably in the wrong area to attract a film society crowd on a regular basis."

Bateman director Michael Osher said: "My client has aspirations to redevelop the site.

"This will likely include retail on the ground floor and some flats above."