Latest News
January 2007
Vale of White Horse District Council planning committee reviews planning application WAN/1960/16 to convert cinema into flats.
December 2006
Members of Friends of Wantage cinema total 435, plus over 150 have registered their interest via the www.wantagecinema.com web site.
November 2006
Planning application (WAN/1960/16) submitted by building owners to convert the cinema into flats. Friends submit objection letter.
July 2006
Cinema estate agents state that cinema projection equipment has been sold (not confirmed whether equipment has been removed). Also that lease will be disposed of for no less than £70,000.
May 22, 2006
Vale of White Horse Development Control Committee consider planning application (WAN/1960/15) by cinema building owners to build four flats adjoining the cinema – later granted, but with conditions of sound-proofing to ensure no future grounds to rule out reopening of the cinema.
April 4, 2006
Confirmed that cinema lease to be kept by current lease-holders.
Monday 20th February, 2006
We had a letter from Green & Co. stating they were to take the cinema off the market on 3rd February. We believe this was so that they can put another application into planning and be able to state that they did not get any offers for it. However, the Committee decided to place an offer for the lease of £10,000 which is less than the £60,000 that they were asking but as the lease has only 4 and a half years left, we believe £10,000 is fair. We then awaited a response from Matthew Green and eventually received one last week, stating that they have extended the deadline until the end of the month.
Tuesday 10th January, 2006
The contribution leaflets sent out before Christmas have, to date, raised the sum of £3,400, with responses coming in daily. More leaflets will soon be delivered to the out-lying villages, along with the opportunity for local businesses to contribute towards the fighting-fund.
A big thank you to everyone who has donated! Two of the contributions have been from very young residents who have donated their pocket money of £3.50 and £2.00. This has spurred the committee further and these two young contributors will have their first visit of the re-opened cinema for free.
Saturday 24th December, 2005
Wantage Scouts joined the campaign and delivered in excess of 4000 leaflets requesting contributions from the residents of Wantage and Grove. This was made possible via well organised annual Christmas Post service which they provide to all residents of the community.
Monday 28th November, 2005
BBC South Today interviewed the committee's Chairmain, Tim Weekes, this morning outside the cinema, along with other members of the public. This is scheduled to be aired on the programme this evening at 6:30pm and then again after the Ten O'Clock News. Be sure to check it out!
Saturday 26th November, 2005
The first meeting of the Friends of Wantage Cinema has been held and a committee has been elected with the objective to get the cinema reopened. More details on the members will come with an overhaul of this temporary site later this week.
We will also be running a stall at Dickensian Evening this Friday (2nd December) which has been provided to us courtesy of the Wantage Community Church. We will be taking donations and giving you the opportunity to become a Friend of Wantage Cinema.