Council demands urgent repairs to listed cinema

The owner of a Grade II listed cinema has been handed an urgent work notice to carry out vital repairs to the building.

The State Cinema in Grays, Essex, first opened its doors in 1938 and was once home to one of the most modern cinemas of its time.

It has been empty since 1988 but has had a string of owners, including current landlord, London businessman Naveed Ahmad, since 2022.

The building has a problem with damp, and Mr Ahmad says he has hired contractors to repair the roof, with work beginning in a week.

The urgent notice from Thurrock Council means that if the owner does not complete the repairs within three months, the authority will step in - before recovering the costs from the owner.

Labour councillor Lee Watson, cabinet member for good growth, said: "Despite repeated assurances that work was under way, we have been disappointed with the lack of progress and that has left us with no option other than to take action to ensure the roof of the State Cinema is repaired and the building protected.

"We take the heritage of the borough extremely seriously and will not hesitate to take decisive action when owners do not live up to their responsibility in looking after the borough's historic buildings."

Campaigners from Save Britain's Heritage have been trying to save the building since 1998.

It is also on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, the campaign group says.

Mr Ahmad, who is a chartered accountant and businessman, said he does have plans for the building.

"This building has a lot of history attached to it," he said.

"A lot of people have good memories of this cinema. We want to restore it. We are trying our best to apply our resources."

He said his team was hoping to submit a planning application in the next few weeks.

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