Clifton Cinema Campaign: Call for support over bank move

Representatives of Clifton Community Arts Centre Ltd in Wellington, are urging people in the town to show their support for their plans to acquire a short-term lease on the former HSBC building.

The group hopes to turn it into a new 80-seat cinema, while continuing with their ultimate aim to acquire the former Clifton Cinema, which closed in the 1980s.

The group has so far raised more than £32,000 from a share offer launched in December 2013.

It was seeking to raise £500,000 to buy and restore the building in Bridge Street which has been empty since soft-furnishings chain Dunelm moved out in 2012. But the group now want more people to invest in the scheme now they have a viable potential site for the cinema.

They have joined the Aviva Community fund and are urging people to vote for the scheme so they can win some funding towards their plans for HSBC on Station Approach.

The group are hoping for a £1,000 grant from Aviva which would help with surveyor and architect fees in customising the building for their intended use. People must visit the fund's website and vote for the project so that it can secure a share of the money.

To vote for the Clifton in the Aviva Community Fund visit visit: community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-1403