£750,000 plan to develop old cinema could transform area of Oswestry
Plans to transform a former Oswestry cinema into a community hub would help transform that area of a town, it has been claimed.
Shropshire Councillor Paul Milner said the proposals for the former Regal Cinema in Oswestry and the ex-B-Wise building could help revitalise an area of the town badly in need of work.
And he called on Shropshire Council to join in by giving empty buildings a spruce-up.
The plans, revealed earlier this week, could see a group forming a community-owned initiative to turn the former cinema into an entertainment, educational and social hub.
Now Councillor Paul Milner, who sits on both Oswestry Town Council and Shropshire Council, said he would be excited to see that area of town have new life breathed into it.
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He said: “I think Oswestry is a wonderful place and it is more than holding its own in challenging economic times.
“There is a whole range of independent traders and businesses we can be proud of.
“But Cross Street is the area that needs something doing to help it. These plans could help do that and I am incredibly excited to find out in more detail what is proposed.”
The plan – which could also include the adjacent B-Wise building – is being spearheaded by Ingrid and Bob Knowles, along with three others.
Funding
Mrs Knowles said that Oswestry BID were supportive of the idea and they had also received positive feedback from the town council.
She added that the group was talking with the Tourist Information Centre “to see how we can work together”.
The idea is to set up an organisation such as a community interest company to buy the building, and Mrs Knowles said that it was “very likely” that they would receive lottery funding.
Facilities could include a cinema, theatre space, social areas and a training scheme for young people.
Councillor Milner said: “It is a big building that housed B-Wise that has become an eyesore and I am desperate to see it back as something beneficial to the town.
“As for the old cinema; well I remember queueing up the road to watch films there as a young boy and it would be great to bring this legendary building back to life.
“Cross Street could have so much potential. The people who own a lot of the vacant buildings are from away and can’t see what it is doing to that area,
“It would be great if Shropshire Council could put some scaffolding up and just make it look a bit tidier, ensure the pigeon droppings aren’t coming down on to the street and make it a bit more appealing for investment.”
