New potential venue for Wellington cinema

With the future of Wellington's old Clifton cinema building still in limbo, and pending an update from owners Dunelm of their intentions, the group trying to save the building is now targeting a new venue.

Clifton Community Arts Centre Limited group has acted on the resolutions from their recent AGM and are in discussions to acquire a short term lease on the former HSBC building at Station Approach in Wellington.

A preliminary scoping of the building indicates that it would be feasible to create an 80+ seat cinema and a cafe-bar on the ground floor and to use the upper floors for rehearsal rooms, readings, classes, craft workshops and young people's activities – and many more, but the prospects of getting the property require the local community to invest further into the group.

The Clifton Community Benefit Society has recently re-launched its Community Share Scheme with initial success and with the added bonus that investors can now reclaim up to 30% of their investment from HMRC through Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR).  Details of this can be obtained via enquiries@theclifton.org

PR officer Fiona Hunter says: "A revised Business Plan for the Station Approach venue is in preparation and will be published shortly. This interim project has already received encouragement both from Wellington Town Council and Telford & Wrekin Borough Council.

"The group remains committed to its ambition to acquire the Clifton site in Bridge Road, but believes that given the success of its Film Seasons and its public support from 2,700 petition signatories it should establish new and better arts and creative facilities elsewhere in Wellington whilst the future of the Clifton building itself remains undecided.

"The Clifton team also welcome the news that the much-loved Mythstories of Wem may be relocating to the former NatWest building on the opposite side of the Church Green, and are looking forward to building an artistic hub and new creative partnerships in the heart of Wellington."