Hello everyone

It’s been a busy few months and a big week for the campaign.

Good news: on Wednesday 1st December Bristol City Council granted our application to have the site listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). This would have given us a chance to bid to buy the site from Wetherspoons.

However over the weekend, we heard rumours that contracts had already been exchanged between Wetherspoons and new owners. Unfortunately, on Monday this week this was confirmed by Wetherspoons’ sales agent.

Having missed ‘the community right to bid’ window by what appears to be just a matter of a few weeks, it is hard not to feel disappointed. The ACV still gives a level of protection over site for the next 5 years. But unless the new owners wish to sell to us, we will need to carry on with our original plans.

While the ACV listing was an important step, we are on a much longer journey and thanks to the almost 9,000 of you who signed our petition, on Tuesday afternoon we were able to present our case to a meeting of Full Council!

Petitions get a 5-minute introduction by the petitioners (that’s us!), followed by a verbal response from each of the four parties on Bristol City Council. Rachel gave our introduction (read it here or watch it here) - setting out our purpose and community vision for the building. Councillors then offered their support: Fabian Breckels (Labour, Troopers Hill ward), Barry Parsons (Green, Easton), Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth) and Sarah Classick (Lib Dem, Hengrove and Whitchurch Park). You can watch their contributions on YouTube.

Councillors then referred the petition to the Mayor for a response within 10 days.

The proposal which shows what we plan to deliver and how, went to all councillors before the meeting and we are delighted to share that with you here!

Further feedback is not only welcome - it is essential. The plan has been designed around our own ideas and suggestions so far received from the community. We fully recognise there are many more voices to consult with and create space for. Having more of those conversations will be our main task in the new year.

As well as looking forward to the Mayor’s response, our next steps include engaging with the new owners of the site to understand their plans and scope for the community cinema to be part of them.

Whatever your skill level or background, we’ve always room for volunteers. Do get in touch, we're sure there will be all kinds of things you can contribute.

Finally, thanks to all of you for every post, share and comment, conversation about the cinema on the bus, share of the petition and offer of support we’ve received so far.

Your passion for the project is incredibly motivating.

Paul

On behalf of the campaign team.

LINKS:

ACV listing

Project Proposal Pack v2.1

Petition introduction

Council meeting youtube stream