TOWN hall chiefs are hoping to bring the big screen back to Accrington and have been holding secret talks with cinema chain bosses.

The aim is to open a four or six screen complex on the empty Moreton Street site on the fringes of the town centre along with a pub and fast food restaurant.

Negotiations are underway with two developers but council officers say talks are still at a delicate stage.

Traders and local people have been campaigning for a cinema in Accrington for several years.

The town has been without a picture house for over five years following the closure of the popular cinema in Edgar Street.

Moves to bring the big screen back to the town looked to have failed after it was revealed that there are plans to build a multi-screen complex on the outskirts of Hyndburn at the Whitebirk industrial estate.

But developers and cinema operators have recently showed renewed interest in coming to Accrington and have been holding negotiations with council planning chiefs.

Kingspark, a West Midlands based company, have put forward plans to build a multi-plex at Whitebirk and a smaller complimentary complex in Accrington.

Developers had suggested building retail units on the vacant land in Moreton Street but

planners want to develop the former dairy site on Eastgate.

They are worried that any extra large shops will kill off the moves to bring in the prospective tenants and extra business to the new Eastgate retail park.

Nigel Rix, the head of Hyndburn's development services, said: "For the last five years Accrington has been without a cinema.

"Conversely, during the last dozen years cinema attendances has more than doubled nationally.

"Locally there has been considerable interest in the development of a new cinema in Accrington town centre."

Mr Rix added: "After lengthy informal discussions with a number of developers and cinema operators it is clear that in recent months the interest in developing the Moreton Street site for cinema has strengthened.

"Proposals are being discussed which could involve the development of a four or six screen cinema and public house with children's play area and fast food facilities."

Two chains are expected to put in planning applications for the Moreton Street site within months and a third application is expected for a multi-screen cinema at Whitebirk.

The plans will be discussed at a policy and resources meeting on Tuesday evening.

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