Robert Sutcliffe
THE owner of a historic picture house at Holmfirth has hit back at "vicious" criticism over plans to redevelop it as a Wetherspoons bar.
Peter Carr, who bought it in 1998, says he has been saddened by the opposition and says people do not understand how much effort he put in to try to keep it open.
JD Wetherspoon has submitted two planning applications to convert the 93-year-old building, to the fury of businesses and councillors who want to see the venue stay open.
It has applied for a change of use for the venue from a cinema to a pub and to demolish a balcony on part of the building's outside wall.
But traders worry the new bar would drive existing pubs out of business and lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour.
Greg Christofi, president of the Holme Valley Business Association, said residents wanted to see the history of the building preserved. The cinema is in a conservation area.
Mr Carr said: "I am aware that many residents of Holmfirth regard the Picturedrome as a place of public importance in the town.
I do also. I have spent the
last eight years investing
my money, my love and
my labour in the Picturedrome.
"I opened in a blaze of publicity eight years ago – then no one came to the films – or at least nothing like enough people.
"I have struggled both to acquire the most popular films, always a problem independents face with distributors, and then to attract local people to watch them.
"There is no doubt that as a venue for performance the Picturedrome is great, but any profit from these activities is quickly swallowed in subsidising the cinema, about which I have been passionate for so long.
"This is no longer a viable way to run my business and support my family."
Mr Carr added: "There has been vocal and sometimes vicious and personal opposition to the proposed sale of the Picturedrome.
"This makes me very sad because if many of those who are protesting at the sale of the Picturedrome had been so concerned over the years, and had used the building and its facilities
and supported some of the community projects that I proposed over that period,
I may not have had to face the difficult and painful decision to sell.
"I believe a partnership with the local council and Kirklees where they supported the community aspects of the Picturedrome and the cinema may have been an answer.
"I am not sure that is possible at this late stage, but I would be only too happy to stay and do something that is of benefit for the town as a whole."
The cinema first opened as the Holme Valley Theatre in 1913 with films, pantomimes, opera, musicians and variety acts attracting visitors to the venue.
In its early days music to accompany the films was provided by a trio of pianists.
It closed in 1967 and became a bingo hall before lying empty but reopened as the Picturedrome cinema in 1998 when Mr Carr bought the venue.
It is now used as a cinema and music venue attracting star names such as singer/songwriter Billy Bragg and Rolling Stones guitarist Bill Wyman.
robert.sutcliffe@ypn.co.uk

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