Former cinema in Deal falling into disrepair says Deal campaign group Reopen the Regent
06:00, 15 December 2020
updated: 13:14, 15 December 2020
A former cinema is falling into serious decay with water seeping into it and collapsed roofing.
That's the warning from a campaign group, which says pigeons have also invaded the disused Regent in Deal and addicts have been there taking drugs.
Reopen the Regent has issued some photographs showing its shocking condition.
The group says this has happened since owners James Wallace and Mark Digweed were granted planning permission to reopen the cinema in July 2019.
The pictures show skips full of rubbish, rusting ironwork and bricks and concrete in a perilous state.
A spokesman for Reopen the Regent said: “Deal residents with long memories and a fatalistic nature are openly expressing the view on social media that the Regent is awaiting a similar fate to that of the late and much lamented Queens Hotel.
"We are assured by Dover District Council that regular inspections take place, but we can see little evidence that any remedial work has been done to ensure that the public or the building itself are safe from any serious and sudden collapse."
The group says that recent severe weather, combined with work on gutting the interior in the summer, has made the building even more fragile.
It says one of its members was given access to the building in the summer and could see sky through many parts of the unstable roof.
The spokesman added: “As we enter 2021 with the prospect of emerging from the pandemic, and the cinema industry looking forward to a boom period, we would hope that the developers would be poised to seize the day on this.
“On behalf of the people of Deal, we are calling on Dover District Council to conduct a full and formal inspection of the current structural condition of the Regent building before it is simply too late."
The campaign group says that one commentator on its Facebook page said that building work has continued during the coronavirus pandemic so it should be the same for the Regent.
A spokesman for Dover District Council said: "DDC as the local planning authority is aware of the condition of the building. "Regular inspections to review the safety and appearance of the building and monitoring will continue in liaison with the developer/landowner.
"At this point, we do not consider any formal action to be needed but this will be kept under review.
"The council had expected the proposed development of the building, which has been granted planning permission, to be commenced earlier this year.
"The developer had indeed been working with the council regarding their proposed works, as this would have required access to be agreed with the council within the car park to the rear.
"However, we understand that these plans and proposals and the timeframe for re-development of the site have been put back due to the pandemic."
The Regent, on the Beach Street seafront, closed as a bingo hall in 2009.
Mr Wallace and Mr Digweed bought the freehold in 2011.
Last year they explained that they planned a two-screen cinema with 104 seats.
They said it would open this year after a 12-month renovation but that was all before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Mr Wallace has also been contacted for comment.
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