REPORT OF ST NEOTS CINEMA JOINT PROJECT GROUP

JANUARY 2008

It's been an aspiration of St Neots for many years to boast a cinema. The Civic Trust Report 2004 confirmed a cinema as resident’s number one leisure requirement. In 2006, American benefactor Peter Rowley, offered £1 million towards a St Neots movie theatre and in 2007 hundreds attended a public meeting to give overwhelming support for a St Neots Cinema.

Last August the St Neots Cinema Joint Project Group presented a project plan to stakeholders and the people of St Neots. The project would investigate the feasibility of a St Neots cinema, identify suitable locations, promote St Neots to cinema companies and facilitate a deal for the town. The JPG stated work would be complete by end 2007 and the outcome would be made public.

The JPG subsequently followed over one hundred lines of inquiry, prepared demographic data and identified appropriate sites. Several cinema operators and developers were identified.

Last fall, interest from a national cinema company was converted to a proposal to build a cinema & restaurants. The proposed Huntingdon Street site was identified by the JPG during summer 2007 as the appropriate and possibly only suitable location in St Neots. The proposal was received in October and discussions between the company and Huntingdonshire District Council began in November.

The JPG are pleased to have attracted a national cinema operator to St Neots. The proposal currently consists 6 screen, 800 seat theatre with latest release movies. Three restaurants, possibly Pizza Express, Nando’s, Frankie & Benny’s, are also planned as is a pedestrian piazza.

This is a unique opportunity to gain a top-class theatre and kick-start town centre regeneration. Mr Rowley has been kept informed and has backed the JPG. It’s all now up to the District Council and the Operator to make it happen.”

Stephanie Johnson - Chairman