Save Odeon group 'show what's inside'

From the archive, first published Tuesday 5th Dec 2006.

Campaigners opposed to the demolition of the former Odeon cinema have produced a brochure containing images which they claim shows that it is capable of being restored.

Bradford Odeon Rescue Group (BORG) says the photographs, taken inside the boarded-up city centre building, were posted to one of its members anonymously and were taken about eight weeks ago.

Speculation has surrounded the condition of the threatened building's interior for a number of years, but BORG says the pictures "reveal the truth" and show that the Odeon's state is "so good" it could reopen with very little effort.

But Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR), which is spearheading plans to transform the site with a new landmark development, says it is not aware that the leaflet contains any new pictures or information.

BORG has always strongly contested the view put forward in 2004 by Maud Marshall, chief executive of BCR, that "virtually nothing remains of the building, except the decaying outer shell."

Members of the campaign group have been requesting access to the building since February 2004 but their requests have been blocked by owners Yorkshire Forward because of health and safety fears, some surrounding asbestos.

The images, described by BORG as "the photos you were never meant to see," show the Odeon's ballroom ceiling, original circle, foyer and projection room apparently in good condition, but provide no proof as to when they were taken.

BORG has produced 2,000 copies of the brochure - entitled The Folly, Fibs and Fabrications' - half of which have been posted out to all Bradford councillors and members of Government offices.

Councillors will have the final say on the building's future when they decide whether to grant permission for the demolition of the Odeon, which closed in 2000, and the construction of its proposed replacement.

In August, the £55m New Victoria Place scheme was announced as the winner of a designer-developer competition to transform the site into a new landmark for the city.

A planning application is yet to be submitted because the developer and BCR are tweaking the final design.

John Pennington, a member of BORG, said: "A lot of people don't realise that the Council will have the final say.

"We have produced this brochure because we don't think the public or the councillors have been told the truth about the real state of the Odeon and this brochure presents the facts before a decision is taken."

Mr Pennington claimed it was a "mystery" as to how the pictures came to be taken inside a building that is boarded up and has signs up warning people not to enter and threatening prosecution for trespassers.

He said: "They were posted to one of our members anonymously. Someone obviously feels very strongly about the Odeon.

"We think they were taken about eight weeks ago," he added.

A spokesman for BCR said: "We are aware of the leaflet that has been published by BORG but are not aware that it contains any new information or pictures.

"Everything included in the leaflet has already been widely discussed at the debate held in June hosted by the Civic Society.

"More than 18 months ago Bradford Centre Regeneration instigated a designer-developer competition in order to find the best possible scheme for the site and that included the option to retain the existing structure.

"Of the 18 expressions of interest not a single one included keeping the site in its current form."

The building was divided up many years ago into multiple cinema screens.

It closed in 2000 because it had proven to be not economically viable as a cinema, bingo hall and as a concert venue. It has remained unoccupied ever since.

The BCR spokesman said: "The criteria used to select the preferred bidder were set out to ensure that the city gets a building with design and functions which reflect the city's aspirations and complement the richness of its architectural heritage.

"The chosen proposal, New Victoria Place, provides a high quality, effective and deliverable use of the site."

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk