CINEMA BOSS BEGINS DIALOGUE WITH COMMUNITY

12.00.00am GMT Fri 11th Mar 2005

Owner of the now closed Lounge cinema in Headingley met with local councillors and residents for the first time at the Lounge Working Group meeting on Tuesday 9 March at Headingley Community Centre. Mr Ure had accepted an invitation to come to the meeting of the Lounge Working Group to present his initial plans for the site and begin a dialogue with the Headingley community.

After the public meeting in Headingley in February, 'The Lounge Working Group' was set up to represent the community and ensure that whatever happens to The Lounge, that the community has its say. The Group is a sub-group of the Central Headingley Strategy Group and includes councillors, community leaders and council officers from the planning and licensing departments.

The Group welcomed Mr Ure's attendance. He had been roundly criticised for the way he had not consulted before closing the cinema and pledged to involve the community in his plans from then on. As Cllr Greg Mulholland said, "We are pleased that Mr Ure accepted the Group's invitation and attended the meeting and that a process of consultation with the community has begun. We just hope that he will be willing to really involve local people rather then just pursuing whatever option makes him most money."

Mr Ure presented initial ideas for his mixed-use development and took comments from members of the group. The main issue at this stage appears to be the question of demolition.

As Cllr Mulholland explains, "Of upmost important is the Streetscene in Headingley and we would oppose anything we feel does not improve the character of Headingley. Clearly there are is a strong feeling in Headingley that the building should be retained and we would hope that this will be acknowledged."

The Lounge Working Group will be continuing to consult with the wider community and in the meantime Mr Ure has been asked to keep the group abreast of any developments. Mr Ure will again be invited to attend the group again in a few weeks to hear the community's response to his initial ideas.

As Cllr Mulholland explains, "We have begun a process of consultation here and we will ensure the community's views are aired at an early stage. We just hope Mr Ure not only listens but responds positively to the feelings of local people."