FILWOOD BROADWAY CINEMA SITE SET FOR HOUSING

Residents in a deprived area of Bristol say they are disappointed with plans to turn an old cinema into houses.

Bristol City Council has approved plans to revamp the old Filwood Broadway cinema in Knowle West.

The council received £14.5m funding from the Levelling Up scheme, which it will use to build new houses on the site of the derelict cinema.

The plans received eight objections, including the charity Re:Work, situated next door to the cinema.

Nicola Gill, who works at Re:Work, said: “I think the news is fantastic, but the council needs to provide premises for cheap rents and for shops and schools in the area,”

“People are still very bitter around here about what happened 10 years ago” added Ms Gill, referring to the high street renewal plans submitted in 2012.

Filwood Broadway in Knowle West is within the 1.5% most deprived areas in England, Bristol’s mayor said.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the council will replace the cinema with a crescent of 17 flats and 13 houses, all of which are classed as affordable, and ground-floor commercial space for retail or community use.

In 2019, the council announced plans to demolish the former 1930s art deco cinema.

Nick Haskins, of Knowle West Residents Voice Group, whose grandfather built the cinema, told a meeting on Wednesday that the old picture house was "the beating heart" of the community.

In its heyday it was frequented by the likes of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, while boxer Dixie Brown had many fights there.

Mr Haskins said “he had conducted a local survey and found 2,000 people who wanted to save the building and use it for community use”.

However, Labour Councillor Fabian Breckels said the cinema had deteriorated too much over 30 years to be saved.

Councillor Tom Renhard said “ funding would be used for more than just housing”.

"This is about investing in Filwood Broadway, it's not just about houses it's about homes and communities,"

Car body work repairs Bristol

Body Repairs

Bristol Ltd

Body Repairs Bristol Ltd specialise in car and commercial vehicle bodywork. We are Mercedes Benz and Daf commercial approved repairers. We are a partnership that has been established for 11 years, but we have over 50 years experience in the trade. Top Quality Professional Job At A Competitive Price

We offer:

Accident repairs

Body repairs

Panel beating

Paint spraying

Fitting of body kits

One-off body styling including spoilers

Import repair specialists

Custom painting, inc flake, candy & pearl

Body Repairs Bristol Ltd have a great deal of experience in the repair of cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles.

: info@bodyrepairsbristol.com Web: www.bodyrepairsbristol.com

Est.

1976 OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE INTERIOR EXTERIOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP COMPETITIVE RATES