The cinema could be demolished

Conwy County Council plan to knock down the 1938 building in Llanrwst and replace it with a rural development centre.

However, the town council have written a protest letter, claiming that local people have not been properly consulted.

A spokeswoman for Conwy council said that was not true.

The letter reads: "It is the unanimous view of the council that there has been woefully inadequate consultation with the towns people and businesses of Llanrwst as to the future of this building and the subsequent development of the site".

However, a spokeswoman for the local authority said the scheme went to the planning committee in February and there were no objections.

"Public representations were invited as part of the planning process," she added.

Alessandro Apolloni would like the building preserved

Llanrwst resident David Ransome said the former cinema is important to the town and should not be pulled down.

Mr Ransome said: "The building was put up in 1938 and at the time it was built it was seen as one of the leading cinemas in north Wales.

"It was specially designed by a Colwyn Bay architect and it was built on a slope. They had the latest sound system and it really was the bees' knees.

"Viewing numbers dropped in the 70s and 80s, Kwik Save used it for a while but then they moved and it was left empty.

"I'm still trying to find exactly when it closed," he added.

Mr Ransome said if locals want to go to the cinema now they have to go to Llandudno which is 15 miles away or take a "bus journey of up to an hour each way".

History

The conservation consultant said the red brick building could be put to use as a "mini-theatre, a cinema or an exhibition centre".

Mr Ransome fears that demolition could happen soon.

"I have been advised that the wagons are almost ready to roll," he added.

Many local residents said the town needed to keep its old buildings.

Tim Roberts believes the town does not need a cinema

"The building goes back a long time and it's a good building and a part of the town. It needs to be preserved, we could keep the structure and change the inside," said Alessandro Apolloni, who is originally from Italy.

His wife Gwyneth added: "A lot of money has been spent in the town through European grants and it seems odd to demolish an old building. I would like to see it renewed."

However, Tim Roberts from nearby Eglwysbach said Llanrwst does not need a cinema anymore.

"I'm not bothered about what will be here. Something needs to be done with the site but I don't think we should keep the cinema.

"The Cineworld in Llandudno is near enough," he said.

Shopper Jean Davies added: "I welcome anything that would tidy the town, a town which has been so nice over the years.

"I don't think that we need a cinema here today, everyone has the television now."

The rural development centre, which Conwy Council say will be built when the cinema is demolished, aims to provide help for people living in rural areas.

The centre could also be used as a conference or exhibition room.