Independent cinema saved from risk of closure

A small cinema has been saved from possible closure after the local city council bought the land from a bigger county authority.

Somerset Council decided to sell the land occupied by the cinema as a tenant, but Wells City Council has bought it, stopping it from going to open market.

Owner of Wells Film Centre Sally Cooper said: "The last few months have been difficult to navigate with the uncertainty about what may happen."

Somerset Council said it wanted to give the city council a chance to buy the cinema.

Wells City Council said it arranged the purchase so there would be "little to no impact to the public purse".

Councillor Theo Butt Philip, Somerset Councillor for Wells said: "Somerset Council needs to sell assets which, like this, are not used for delivering council services.

"But we know how important the cinema is to Wells, so from the outset we have been committed to ensuring the city council had an opportunity to buy the site before it was offered for sale more widely."

Mayor of Wells and city council chair Councillor Jasmine Browne said: "The city council is delighted to be able to support local businesses and services.

"We look forward to a long and successful working relationship with the cinema"

Ms Cooper said she was "delighted" with the news, adding: "I am delighted to have the support of the city council, in securing the cinema for the people of Wells."

She explained that an arrangement has been reached with the city council that works for both.

"We are really excited for the future of the cinema and will now be focusing on how we can improve the facilities to ensure that it remains a thriving local business for years to come."

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