Support pours in to save Picturedrome from closing

A petition in support of the town centre venue had gained some 200 names earlier this week. A page on the Facebook website had gathered 1,300 friends.

Concern about the possible closure of the two screen building, opposite the railway station, has even spread as far as America.

Picturedrome Electric Theatre Co Ltd managing director Adam Cunard said: "Lots of people, from as far as New York, want to save the Picturedrome. We have had a massive amount of support and it shows how much people love the cinema."

Backing for the Picturedrome was also apparent in the queue outside on Tuesday lunchtime. Some 30 people were waiting for the doors to open for either Bolt or The Secret of Moonacre.

Among them were friends Samantha McVey and Tania Wisdom, each with their two children aged eight and five.

Samantha (40), of Greencourt Drive, North Bersted, said: "I used to come here when I was younger, about 25 to 30 years ago. It will be a shame if it has to close because it has been here for such a long time.

"If it closes, I expect the cinema in Chichester will put up its prices because it will have a monopoly."

Tania (36), of Gloster Drive, Nye-timber, said: "I come here with the children because it's a lot cheaper to get in than Chichester and the sweets and popcorn are a lot cheaper as well.

"We can have an afternoon here for about 10 all in, whereas it costs 7 for an adult just to see a film in Chichester.

"We come here two or three times in the main holidays. They have the big films much quicker than they used to, which is really good."

As the Observer reported last week, the Picturedrome's future is under threat because of a rent row with the building's owner.

The Bognor Pier Co Ltd, which is unrelated to the town's pier, wants to increase the annual rent from 16,000 to 45,000 backdated to last May. Even this is a reduction on the original demand of 75,000 which was lowered after arbitration.

The next rent is due today. Mr Cunard said the usual payment would be made. "We have written to Bognor Pier Co telling them what we can afford," he said.

"We have told them we hope we can come to an agreement. We have also pointed out the risk they could be left with an empty building if we have to close."

Bognor Pier Co secretary and director Josephine Carter told the Observer the cinema's lease was taken over by Picturedrome Electric Theatre's parent company, Anaid, in 2007 with a rent review due the next year.

"Under the terms of the lease, if the tenant and landlord can't agree on the new rent, it will be put to an independent expert.

"He was appointed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

"The tenants are bound to accept the results of that review. Anaid were aware there would be an increase in the rent when they took on the lease," she stated.

"If they don't pay the rent, they will be taken to court, as would be the case in any instance like this."

This summer the cinema is due to celebrate its 90th anniversary of continuously screening films.

It employs 15 full and part time staff.

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