Cinema plans thrown out (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cinema plans thrown out

CIRENCESTER'S Regal Cinema has once again been saved from the bulldozers but future development at the site has not been ruled out.

Plans to knock down the 70 year old cinema and build 24 town houses at the Lewis Lane site were turned down by district councillors on Wednesday.

But Marcus Kitchen, Cotswold District Council's principal planner, made it clear officers had no objections in principle to the site being developed.

He told members of CDC's planning committee that the proposed development for 24 houses was too big and was not supported by the council. "We have no objection to the principle of housing development on this site. "The issue is the sheer intensity of this development. "This is a very large development in Cirencester which has archaeology of international significance. "It is not possible officers would support this scheme."

Heritage Homes Wessex proposed to demolish the cinema and build 24 three-storey houses with two and three bedrooms along with 16 garages and on-site parking spaces.

The application also included refurbishing a former coach house at the back of the cinema.

Sixteen people wrote to CDC opposing the plans and seven voiced support for them.

English Heritage and Gloucestershire County Council's senior archaeological officer Charles Parry opposed the scheme and identified the site as being of national and even international archaeological importance.

Mr Parry told councillors more information was needed about the archaeology beneath the site. He added: "We're not saying that the site can never be built on. "This site is of national importance. Whoever wants to develop it must demonstrate that the archaeology can be preserved and not destroyed."

But Cllr Sue Herdman said it was about time something was done with the cinema site. "How long are the Romans going to dictate what is going on in our town? "What are we going to achieve? "This is a really blighted site now. These are town houses which we desperately need in Cirencester."

Cllr Rex Williams said: "This is bureaucracy gone totally bonkers. "The applicant has bent over backwards. "It's time the thing was taken by the scruff of the neck and something done with it."

Cllr Gill Peachey said she was concerned about the loss of parking with a shortfall of 23 spaces. "It would be an enormous loss of parking space to the general public and would put pressure on the other car parks."

A financial contribution from the applicant towards a new cinema should be looked into, according to Cllr Phil Coleman. He added: "It's time we started saying what can be done with the site. "I'd find it extremely difficult if we keep saving stuff underground. "My generation won't see it and this would have been a golden opportunity to find some new remains and put them in a museum in Cirencester."

Cllr Deryck Nash said whilst the present scheme was not acceptable he hoped the developer would come back with something different.

Councillors refused the application due to the scale and design of the building, the impact it would have on neighbouring residents and the archaeological issues involved.