Judicial review set for Picture House

An application for a judicial review into the decision to approve plans for a new cinema and apartments at the derelict Whiteladies Picture House will be launched by a campaigner.

Last month, councillors unanimously approved plans which would see cinema operator Everyman join forces with owners Medinbrand to create a three-screen cinema. Five apartments would be built within the grade II-listed building as an enabling development.

The building has lain empty since 2001 and councillors, including cabinet member Simon Cook and Christian Martin, lined up to support the proposal. Cllr Cook said that should the current plans be rejected, the heritage cinema could remain empty and decaying for at least another 10 years.

But David Fells, founder of the Whiteladies Picture House group, said the plans failed to fully secure planning requirements.

Yesterday, Mr Fells said that he was shutting down the company he had formed to take on his vision of a cinema and community arts centre – ending a four-year project to bring his own plans to fruition.

He said though that he would be seeking a judicial review to get conditions put in place to ensure the owners did not go back on their word and that a cinema would indeed be built.

A similar plan put forward by the owners to use the building for a gym and apartments had been rejected by councillors last year. But Mr Fells said that because a cinema and gym both fell under a similar planning category, there was nothing to stop the owners going back on their work and building the gym instead.

“After much thought we have decided that while our plans for the building are significantly better for the building and the community then those put forward by [building owner] Medinbrand – it seems that a significant number of the local population want to see a three screen cinema returned to the building,” he said.

“I still believe that Bristol is desperate for a new mid-sized arts venue that can host both touring and community productions – however without Bristol councillors acknowledging this need, I think it will be very hard for such a venue to come about – especially now that the Whiteladies Picture House (a building perfectly suited for such a task) is not available.

“With regards to the flats and three-screen cinema plans we had many worries about the proposal – in particular that the contract with Everyman is due to expire in Feb 2015. With the recent news that Andrew Myers (The Everyman CEO) is leaving the company this year, I believe there is a real risk that the cinema will not happen.

“Last year a public enquiry was held to see if flats and a gym (class D2 leisure) would be allowed – these plans were rejected by the planning inspectorate.

“This year a planning application for flats and a cinema (class D2 leisure) was accepted by Bristol planning committee.

“In planning terms there is very little difference between the two applications and so we could still see the WLPH become a gym or some other class D2 leisure facility.

“The planning officer and the planning committee did not address any of our fears and have put no conditions in place to ensure the cinema will happen. For this reason I am starting the judicial review process with the hope of having these conditions put in place.

“While damaging Bristol’s last heritage cinema to create a three screen cinema may be acceptable to a lot of people – damaging that same building when their is doubt around whether the cinema will happen is not acceptable and so we must do everything possible to ensure Medinbrand keep their word and we do in fact end up with a cinema.

“The judicial review will be funded by my own funds and not by any money raised by the WLPH Ltd. Once we have closed the company any funds remaining will be donated to another arts organisation in the city (final decision on who will receive this donation will be made at a later date).”