Clacton: Council’s bid to save town’s only cinema

A call has been made for the Gala Coral Group to get round the table to discuss the issues surrounding the decision to close Flicks in Pier Avenue.

Tendring District Council (TDC) has offered to set up the meeting following community concern over the scheduled closure of the film theatre next month.

The council has written to the group’s chief executive, Carl Leaver, in the hope that it will stimulate talks to explore the issue.

TDC deputy leader Peter Halliday and Stephen Mayzes, cabinet member for tourism and community life, have put forward the offer.

In a letter the pair said: “We fully appreciate that you would not have reached this decision lightly.

“However we would be grateful if you could be available to attend a meeting that we would like to facilitate in order to discuss the concerns that have been raised by our local community in regard to the closure.”

Mr Mayzes said the council is keen to investigate if there is any way forward for the future of the cinema.

“We want to look into all the potential options with the hope to retain a cinema in Clacton town centre,” he added.

“We would like to see some sort of consultation before such an important facility is lost to the town.”

Mr Mayzes said he has been a regular at Flicks over the years and personally does not want to see it close for good. More important than that, though, is that we hear and listen to the views of our residents who are very much against this closure,” he added.

Dean Peterson, a former member of staff at Flicks, has set up a petition in a bid to save the cinema. He is delighted that Tendring District Council has got involved with the campaign.

“It is encouraging that the council is using its role as a community champion to ask for these discussions with the Gala Coral Group,” he said.

“We all need to work together to do whatever we can to save our last cinema in Clacton.”

Nobody from Gala Coral Group was available for comment.