We're getting in touch from the Save Redfield Cinema campaign, a grassroots campaign set up to save an art deco cinema in the back of a former Wetherspoons in Redfield, BS5. The cinema is one of the oldest surviving in the country, built in 1912 and running as a cinema until it became a bingo hall in 1961 and was then mothballed in the 1970's. But you know that already, because you were one of almost 10,000 people to sign our petition!
Our group managed to gain Asset of Community Value status for the property last year but Wetherspoons sold the building to private developer; Landrose, just before, removing our chance to buy it for the community. The developer submitted a planning application for a 44-bed HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) after zero public consultation. We activated the community to log almost 1,000 objections on the council's planning portal, subsequently Landrose withdrew their application and said they were willing to talk with us. Sadly that meeting never materialised, despite multiple attempts, and Landrose have now announced they're about to submit another planning application for the same 44-bed HMO, except this time they are holding a public consultation.
In the meantime, we've been developing our business plan, liaising with an ex-Curzon development lead and funders, including WECA who are highly supportive of our vision, which ties into the council's Local Plan. We've also been working with a group of UWE MA Architectural students, calling themselves 'Revive Redfield Cinema'. They have spent time trying to get a sense of St George's Hall and what it could offer as a community space.
So we would like to invite you to two lots of meetings:
1) Hosted by the UWE students, where you can see our plans, talk to designers and interact with a scale model of the building, exploring the full potential of what the space could provide the community. Please share your ideas with us at any of these four events:
-Sunday 27th November - Festive Fayre St George Community Centre -13:00-16:00T
-Thursday 1st December - Wellspring Settlement - 13:00-15:00a
-Sturday 3rd December - Bethesda Methodist Church - 2:30-16:00S
-Sunday 4th December - St George Community Centre - 17:00-19:00
2) Landrose public consultation - Wednesday 30th November - St George's Hall, 203 Church Road - 17:00-20:30 We want as many people as possible to attend this meeting to make their voices heard, directly to the developer.
We are absolutely sure there's a better way for this building to continue to serve the community, that benefits everyone with a mix of housing, a cinema, food hall and place to gather.
We really hope you can join us at one or both of these events.
The Save Redfield Cinema team