Hopes rise for operator for planned new cinema

Michael Black, from Northumberland County Council’s development company Arch, revealed the next steps for the Portland Park project at Wednesday night’s Ashington and Blyth Local Area Council.

“We are here to promote and get the very best for the site,” he said.

The company’s board has approved £150,000 to progress the scheme with a high-quality prospectus to attract operators due to be completed this month ahead of ‘establishing formative interest’ by the end of June.

Arch is also progressing an outline planing application for a mixed-use development featuring a cinema, retail and dining outlets.

A report by a consultant specialising in the cinema sector concluded that ‘with a carefully considered business plan, Arch should be able to engage with operators to provide a sustainable, high-quality cinema operation’.

However, ‘if Ashington is unable to attract a recognised national operator, the development of a cinema-led scheme on Portland Park will not be commercially viable’.

The update was brought to the local area council meeting due to the 1,100-name petition calling for action on the ‘hole’ left in the town centre since the new Conservative administration cancelled the new council HQ on the site after seizing power last May.

A protest took place earlier this month to mark the anniversary of it being ‘abandoned’, where the main themes were scepticism about the cinema proposal and a call for a development which would create more and better jobs for Ashington residents.

And these concerns were echoed by councillors and residents at Wednesday’s meeting, with Coun Mark Purvis saying: “Bringing a cinema is not going to bring jobs. People are queuing at food banks, they are not going be paying at least £10 to watch a blockbuster.”

Resident Graeme Wright pointed out that Ashington has a population of 28,000 so the public consultation has involved just two per cent of residents.

He said: “Half of those are young people who of course will say they would like a cinema, but there’s no jobs for them to spend their money on a cinema.”

Responding, Mr Black said: “I appreciate the view that this should be a job-creating site, but offices in town centres tend to be either occupied by local or central government and the previous plan was an importation of jobs.”

He added that attracting town-centre jobs was very difficult, even in cities, but that the cinema proposals would act as ‘a catalyst for further development’ and generate increased footfall, particularly in the early evening.

Another resident, Susan Lonsdale, asked about transport links, particularly if the aim is to build an evening economy in the area.

Mr Black said that it was key to the development and that Arch would work with Arriva on the necessary bus services, adding that the North of Tyne devolution deal and its implications for the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line was very positive.

Coun Jeff Gobin asked how all this sat with the Tory pledge to scrap Arch. He was told by Coun Richard Dodd, the council’s business chairman, that a report will be coming to cabinet imminently and that the company will be retained, but rebranded and with a narrower focus on regeneration within the county.

Ben O'Connell, Local Democracy Reporting Service