Don't blame the planners!
I speak as one of those 'bloody planners'.

Simple economics dictates that old cinemas are not very (if at all) profitable. Certainly, the only people who would take them on would do it for the love of it, not for the cash. Generally then, philanthropists or charitable trusts. Certainly, some cinemas are kept open this way, but it is very few, the majority fall into disuse. With disuse, comes decay. The building ends up being vandalised, losing its original features, and often, just falling down.

Result - no building, no heritage, no memories. Just a generic piece of modern development in its place.

Residential conversions are the only use which generate a high enough land value to make conversion of this type of building financially viable. With a residential conversion, ok, it's not a cinema anymore, but the building is still there, and those 'bloody planners' work fucking hard to make sure that a conversion is done sensitively and to retain all the features of interest.

Result - one former cinema building, kept in good repair. Heritage and memories intact.

I have absolutely no doubt which I would choose.
(grandmaswhiskers, Mon 21 Jul 2008, 16:58, Reply)