News / KNowle West
Man starts to squat in historic former cinema
A man has started to squat in a historic former cinema – after fighting to save the building from demolition.
Nick Haskins entered the 85-year-old building on Filwood Broadway in Knowle West on Monday morning – and says he plans on staying there “for as long as it takes”.
On Wednesday, January 18, Bristol City Council’s planning committee approved plans to build 30 homes in place of the former Broadway Cinema, which has been derelict for 30 years.
is needed now More than ever
Nick says he has decided to squat over the “way he was treated” at the meeting – where he was told plans to demolish the council-owned building had already been approved.
https://www.facebook.com/nick.haskins3/videos/3412590355676772
Wearing a hard hat and hi-vis jacket, Nick took to Facebook Live to reveal he had made it inside the building.
The local campaigner says he “just walked in”, through a gate which was wide open.
While he accepts the cinema’s fate is sealed, he wants a formal apology from the council following the recent meeting.
He said: “They asked me to send in a letter, invited me to the meeting, got me to stand up and put my part forward – and they told me the deal was already done.”
The plans to demolish the cinema were approved in 2019, with councillors on Wednesday voting on the plans for what the council wants to build in place of the building.
Nick Haskins wants a “formal apology” from the council before he stops squatting in the old cinema – photo: Charlie Watts
Contractors Wring Group have begun work to demolish the 1930s cinema – with this due to be completed by early May.
But Nick says he will remain inside it until his plans for the former library and old swimming pool site on Filwood Broadway are also “taken seriously”.
He is against proposals to potentially relocate Filwood Library and wants the former Filwood Swimming Baths site, which has been earmarked for houses, to be turned into outdoor youth facilities.
Bristol City Council, Wring Group, and Avon and Somerset Police have been contacted for comment.
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Nick Haskins
Read next:
- Anger after plans to replace historic cinema with homes approved
- Demolition of former community centre begins ahead of redevelopment of site
- Rundown high street to receive £15m boost
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