Cinema plan for cattle market site (From Free Press Series)

Cinema plan for cattle market site

ABERGAVENNY could have a brand new cinema on the Cattle Market site - if the price is right.

The members of Monmouthshire County Council cabinet agreed at their meeting behind closed doors that they would prefer to see a new building for the cinema, and have asked officers to see whether one could be included in the livestock market redevelopment scheme.

But they also agreed to visit the Bethany Baptist Chapel and the Drill Hall - two of the buildings in Abergavenny town centre which are for sale and have been earmarked as possible for a one or two-screen cinema.

Members of the Bryn y Cwm area committee agreed to a report asking the cabinet if they would fund the acquisition and adaptation of a building in the town, at a cost of more than £500,000.

After the cabinet meeting Jeff Martin, director for the environment said building a cinema on the Cattle Market site would need to be agreed by the preferred developer who will be appointed by the beginning of July, and subject to the cost implications for the council.

He added: "The cabinet's preference is for a new building, and they have instructed officers to see whether such a facility could be achieved as part of the redevelopment scheme."

The news was welcomed by the Abergavenny Cinema Support Group who have campaigned for the facility for some time. One of their members, Barbara Powell said: "We are highly delighted at anything that pushes the likelihood further forward. We'll believe it when we see it, but this latest move sounds more likely than it has in the past."

The cabinet also chose two major development companies from the shortlist of six, to proceed to the final bid stage for the Cattle Market scheme. But the council has not released the names of the two finalists.

Mr Martin said they have been impressed with the quality of the bids. "The council's intention is to secure best value for Abergavenny and that means selecting a scheme that will work best for the town.

"The last stage of this selection process will allow the two preferred developers to carry out further work to maximise the benefits from their proposals in the form of best and final offers."

Monmouthshire County Council agreed last year to redevelop the Cattle Market site in preference to the Brewery Yard, but they want to include direct links to the latter.

In April the county planning committee agreed to outline plans to put a 25,000 square feet foodstore on the site, plus 31 flats and a new library.