Council urged to formally withdraw Bowness cinema from National Park’s redevelopment list

Windermere councillor Ben Berry is urging South Lakeland District Council to withdraw the Royalty Cinema from a list of sites it has submitted Lake District planners for future redevelopment.

The council, which owns the building, asked the Lake District National Park Authority to include the cinema in its Local Plan Review which is currently out to consultation.

As part of their review, Lake District planners have said that the cinema building detracts from the quality of the Bowness Conservation Area and could be redeveloped for a mix of uses, such as retail and tourism.

The National Park’s consultation closes on 29 June and councillor Berry is calling on the council’s cabinet to formally withdraw the Royalty from the process to prevent the cinema being downsized or even closed in any future redevelopment plans, when it meets tomorrow (28 June).

Councillor Berry said: “South Lakeland District Council quietly slipped the Royalty Cinema into the National Park’s Local Plan Review earlier this year.

“After Lake District planners let the cat out of the bag by publishing details on its consultation website, the council has tried furiously to backtrack by issuing public statements and dismissing the local community’s concerns.

“What it has not done, however, is the one thing that it needs to do to remove any future threats hanging over the Royalty. Before the National’s Park’s consultation ends on 29 June, the council must formally withdraw the site from the process.

“Only then will local people have the assurance that they will not end up with a smaller cinema, or no cinema at all, during the lifetime of the National Park’s new Local Plan.”

“The clock’s ticking.”