A CAMPAIGNING schoolgirl has won a pledge from her local MP over pleas for a new cinema in the borough.

Hyndburn Greg Pope said he would do all he could to make her wish come true and said he hoped the development could be a reality by the end of the year.

Mr Pope spoke after he joined council chiefs to meet 12-year-old Emma Allardice, who has organised a petition calling for a cinema in Accrington.

The town's last cinema - the three-screen Unit Four in Broadway - was closed 10 years ago to make way for the Arndale Centre.

Emma, a pupil at Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, launched her campaign last April by writing to Mr Pope and Hyndburn Council.

A meeting was arranged with Mr Pope and council chiefs at Accrington Town Hall last Friday, when Emma handed over her petition.

The petition will be sent to cinema companies to try and attract them to the town.

Emma, from Accrington, said: "We need a cinema in Accrington. Everyone I speak to agrees with me. It is really difficult and expensive for people to travel to Blackburn or Burnley if they want to go to the pictures.

"It is especially inconvenient and expensive for young people and senior citizens. I need help with my battle and I am not going to stop until we get a cinema here in Accrington."

Mr Pope said: "We desperately need a cinema and other leisure facilities here in Hyndburn. "I was contacted a few years ago by pupils from St Christopher's High School in Accrington who handed over a massive petition. But sadly, even with the weight of that behind me, the cinema operators were still not interested.

"It's time we had another go, and hopefully with the backing of everyone at Friday's meeting, we may be able to get a cinema in Hyndburn before the end of the year."

The council's negotiations to build a cinema and leisure park on derelict land near the viaduct in Hyndburn Road have reached a standstill, according to Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe.

Coun Britcliffe said: "Emma has obviously done a lot of hard work organising the petition. The councillors, council officers and Mr Pope all want to do whatever we can to bring a cinema to the town, but it isn't as simple as that.

"The council can only do its best to encourage a cinema company to Hyndburn. But Emma's petition, plus lobbying from the council and Mr Pope, should help show that there is a need for a new cinema in the town.

"Accrington's nightlife seems to be on the up with a a couple of new bars being opened recently. Let's hope that by regenerating the rest of the town, we can help attract a cinema company."

Emma is pictured presenting her petition to the Mayor of Hyndburn, Coun Bernard Dawson, and (from the left) Greg Pope MP, council leader Peter Britcliffe and council director of regeneration Nigel Rix.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.