Curtain up for Whiteladies Picture House plan

Plans to redevelop the landmark Whiteladies Picture House, creating a new cinema for Clifton and five apartments, have been approved by councillors.

But a rival group who have been planning to convert the building for a community cinema and arts centre have said they could seek a judicial review into the decision.

Councillors at City Hall yesterday unanimously approved the plans, which would see cinema operator Everyman join forces with owners Medinbrand to create a three-screen cinema.

The building has lain empty since 2001 and councillors said that should the current plans be rejected, it could remain empty and decaying for at least another 10 years.

Councillors lined up to support the plan, with cabinet member Simon Cook leading the way, saying: “This building has been empty for 13 years. During this time, local residents have stressed that the best outcome for its future would be to return it to the use for which it was built, namely a cinema.

“This is an exciting application that will beautifully restore the building that is currently very dilapidated.”

On the Development Control Committee, Cllr Mark Wright said it had “not been a surprise” the previous ABC cinema had gone out of business in 2001 and that the future for the buildings was brighter than it had been at the start of the century.

“The model here is potentially quite exciting – better than the cinema it will replace,” he said.

But David Fells, founder of the Whiteladies Picture House group, who has worked for four years to bring his own plans to fruition, said the plans failed to fully secure planning requirements.

Council officers accepted that harm to the heritage of the building would be created, with the loss of the historic ballroom, but that the return of the cinema to the building outweighed this loss. Officers were required to examine whether another plan could bring the same benefit but without the damage to the building.

But Mr Fells said: “Given the potential for harm to the building from Medinbrand, they have not proved there is no other viable option.”

Melanie Chiswell Brooks, on behalf of the owner, said the residents had said in a full consultation that this plan was the one they wanted.

And she continued her attack on the WPH group saying their petition against the plans, which had more than 1,000 signatories, was “disingenuous and serves only to confuse people”.

“This petition should not be taken seriously as it is clear that many people who have signed it do not understand what they have signed.

“Residents have said give us our cinema back. That is what we are giving them.”

Mr Fells insisted after the unanimous vote that his group had been “absolutely clear” with the public and added: “We were expecting the plans to be approved, having read the officers report. We will now be looking at options to potentially take a judicial review of the decision.”