Row as Barnoldswick's first cinema in over 25 years to open

The Centre Screen mobile cinema, at the Rainhall Centre, Barnoldswick, is set to open in the new year.

It has been described as an “exciting” development by the Craven ward’s Coun David Whipp, who is also a member of Barnoldswick Town Council.

But fellow Craven ward councillor Glenn Whittaker, who is also on the town council, raised concerns about the cost.

And Jennifer Purcell, another town council members, labelled it “ridiculous” and a waste of money.

The cinema, which will feature a state-of-the-art screen, has high-definition capability.

It will be the first cinema in the town since the closure of the Majestic Cinema, in Albert Road, in the early 1980s, councillors said.

And it will include up to 80 seats, which Coun Whipp, who has been involved with the development, believes will provide visitors with an “armchair experience.”

He added: “I’m chomping at the bit to get going because we have been planning it for a long time and it’s finally all coming together now, so I’m very excited.

“We’re hoping to show a mixture of recent releases and genre films to cater for all ages.

“We’re planning afternoon showings for mums and tots and there will be opportunities for local people to have their own films on the big screen.”

West Craven Committee has funded £30,000 towards the cinema and a further £10,000 has been donated by Barnoldswick Town Council.

Coun Whittaker said another £30,000 will be required to complete the development.

He said: “I thought £10,000 sounded reasonable for a cinema when it was raised at the town council meeting, but then at the West Craven Committee meeting, Coun Whipp proposed that we donate £30,000 for a mobile cinema, which I didn’t realise was the same one.

“It seems like a lot of money for one cinema.”

Coun Purcell, added: “I think these councillors need to be brought to task for wasting a lot of taxpayers’ money on a mobile cinema. People have their own plasma TVs and there is the credit crunch to consider.”