Town to see return of the big screen

12:00pm Friday 10th October 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Film fans are working flat out in their bid to open a long-awaited community cinema in Barnoldswick by Christmas.

A traditional Saturday movie matinee for youngsters and screenings of classic films will be just two of the highlights of the new attraction, called Centre Screen, to be based at the town’s Rainhall Centre.

Pendle Council’s West Craven Committee has already pledged £30,000 towards the project and Barnoldswick Town Council is contributing a further £10,000.

Now organisers are drawing up a shopping list of modern cinema equipment and have pledged it will be made available on loan to other groups and community centres in the West Craven area.

Plans to open the cinema were drawn up following a survey asking local people what they wanted most.

A cinema to replace the town’s last picture house, the Majestic, which closed in the 1970s, was the most popular demand.

Rainhall Centre project manager Jennene Whiteley said there would be films for every age group and interest.

“To begin with we thought we would show films on one or two evenings a week and we would have a Saturday matinee for the youngsters,” she said.

“Ticket prices will be a lot cheaper than your normal cinema as we are all feeling the effects of the credit crunch and we want it to be affordable for people.

“We’re very excited about the development and if all goes according to plan we should be up and running before Christmas. It’s a nice time of year and would be a perfect time for the launch.”

Mrs Whiteley said there would be a loyalty scheme providing a 50 per cent discount on ticket prices and other plans in the pipeline include a buddy scheme to give the elderly lifts to and from the cinema.

It is also envisaged films in Polish would be shown to cater for Barnoldswick’s Polish population. Mrs Whiteley said there would be lots of chances for young people to get involved in the project and gain experience in working behind the scenes.

A funding application is also under way to provide audio description for blind people who wish to enjoy the new facility.

Barnoldswick councillor David Whipp, who has been heavily involved in the project, said the cinema was something the whole town was looking forward to.

“The Rainhall Centre provides the perfect venue for a community cinema. There is tiered seating in the hall so everyone will get a good view of the film,” said Coun Whipp.

“We’re keen to provide a quality experience for people so that they will return time and time again.

“The cinema will use high quality digital equipment that is used in some of the foremost film festivals in the country.

“There’s been a working group of volunteers beavering away on this project and the aim now is to have the cinema open before Christmas.

“When we asked local people what they wanted, they said a cinema and that’s why such a big investment has been made,” said Coun Whipp.

Plans for the cinema were first revealed in 2006 when work started on transforming the derelict Rainhall Road Primary School into a community centre.

The school closed in 2001 and the cinema will be housed in the former school hall. There will be seating for up to 70 people.

The cinema equipment will also be available to use for film screenings at the parish halls at Kelbrook and Salterforth, New Road Community Centre at Earby and West Craven Sports Centre, Barnoldswick.