I'm not sure if all of you are aware, but there is a stunning Art Deco Cinema on Church Road, hidden behind what used to be a Wetherspoons. There are about 200 seats, ceiling decorations etc etc all still there - it's stunning. The building as been purchased on the quiet by a building developer, who initially submitted plans to entirely gut the building and turn it into 10 or 15 or something like that flats of multiple occupancy, each with 4 or 5 bedrooms and shared kitchens, so housing something like 45 or 50 people in a rather tight space. They said they would make a community space by including a 10-seater cinema (WTF?!)... the planning permission got over 900 comments objecting to the proposed plans, and was withdrawn before the council could make a decision. There have been some supposed 'community engagement' meetings with the developer but they have basically re-submitted the same plans again, just before Christmas. Yes, more housing is needed in Bristol, I do not deny that. But we also need community spaces. And the opportunities with this building are immense. There are all kinds of exciting plans that would be so so so much better than cramming lots of single folk into a space and most likely making it very transient.

We do not have long to make our objections known, as it was re-submitted before Christmas whilst we were all in a haze of chocolate and cheese. If you like the idea of a community hub / cinema / event space in Redfield / St George please take a moment to object the planning application. I'll try to write my text tonight, and will share that if people want to copy and paste. We have achieved a similar win previously when it was about flats at the back of All Hallows - let's do it again!

This is the link to the planning application: 22/06037/F | Proposed change of use and extension of existing building to create a scheme of 13 x HMO Cluster Units (44 beds) together with associated Gym and Communal Workspace facilities (Sui Generis). Change of use of Drinking Establishment floorspace (Sui Generis) to Commercial floorspace (Sui Generis) | 203 Church Road Redfield Bristol BS5 9HL

Thanks Cows!
Becs 

xxx