Cinema to be demolished despite objections

Demolition plans for a town's only cinema have been approved by the council despite local attempts to save the venue.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, North Northamptonshire council granted demolition permission for the Odeon cinema in Kettering on Thursday.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition to pledge their support for the venue and halt its closure.

One Odeon cinema customer said: "To close [the cinema] for the aging population is reducing significantly their ability to enjoy life."

The cinema, located on the leisure park near the A14, first opened in the 1990s.

The applicant, Rockmount Kettering Limited, said in planning documents the cinema would be vacating the property in February 2025 and that continued operation of a cinema in the building was "not a viable or feasible proposition".

Papers submitted to the local authority also stated that Odeon itself "declared their intention to vacate the property", but an objection submitted by the manager alleges that they had "no intention" of closing and were being forced to vacate by landlords.

Another customer said: "Many older people attend this entertainment centre not merely to watch movies but to meet up with friends and fight loneliness.

"Travelling to other venues particularly at night is troublesome, expensive or scary.

"Perhaps instead of selling off this site the council could investigate expanding the options of this venue for additional entertainment possibilities."

The cinema is set to be demolished down to "ground slab level with a concrete, level surface" left in situ, according to the submitted plans.

A separate proposal to demolish the former Hobson's Choice pub, also located within the Leisure Park, was withdrawn two days prior to the Odeon's demolition approval.

Demolition work is scheduled to begin in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of May.

Meanwhile, Cineworld has said it will shut another six of its cinemas including one in Northampton following a major restructuring process.

The cinema chain revealed the fresh closure plans after formally completing a restructuring plan it launched in the summer to shore up its finances.

The leisure firm has not disclosed how many jobs will be impacted by the closures.

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