Popular effort could be salvation of cinema

I WRITE in response to Richard Webb’s letter (Yorkshire Post, April 30) regarding the Bradford Odeon. I have occasion to make regular visits to Aberfeldy, in Perthshire, a town of 2,000 plus inhabitants, whose Birks cinema, built pre-war, was closed over 30 years ago. It was gutted internally, and has an asbestos roof.

The good people of Aberfeldy decided that they would like to re-open this cinema, and formed a charity, Friends of the Birks Cinema with a target of £1.8m.

They have achieved this target, with the assistance of a large anonymous donation believed to be from JK Rowling, who lives in the area. A contract has been signed for the work to begin and next year a state of the art community-run cinema and cafe bar providing a venue for live performance and special events will open.

If a small town like Aberfeldy can achieve this, what is to stop a large conurbation like Bradford, with business connections such as Sir Ken Morrison, David Hockney etc and residents who have made their fortunes from the textile, engineering and other trades, putting their shoulder to the wheel?

I feel that politics and a lack of willingness to end this long-running saga are to blame. I agree with Richard Webb – it is time to put up or shut up.