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Owner of former cinema told to make building safe

Michelle RuminskiSomerset Political Reporter
News imageBBC The derelict building in Bridgwater. It has a largely grey exterior with boarded up windows and two chimneys on the top. There is a roundabout to the left of the image.BBC
Somerset Council has issued a formal notice to the building's owners to make it safe

The owner of a derelict building which was once a cinema and bingo hall has been urged to make the site safe.

A formal notice from Somerset Council, attached to the building on Penel Orlieu in Bridgwater, said the rotten decking and joists in the canopy above a walkway are "likely to constitute a danger to the public".

The local authority said it had not had a response from the owner, Sage Business Services, who the BBC has also attempted to contact.

The council said the next step was to seek legal action to make sure repairs are carried out.

News imageCanopy above the Scott Cinema building with holes in it. There is a man walking along the pavement and there are buildings in the background.
Holes can be seen in the building's canopy above the public walkway on Penel Orlieu in Bridgwater

Scott Cinemas and Mecca Bingo left the building in 2022, with the cinema moving to the nearby Northgate Yard site.

Bridgwater resident Stuart Lawrence, 45, said: "It's a shame it's just sat there doing nothing. It's definitely unsafe, it's letting the area down."

Another local, Gaye Finch, said: "It's a disgrace to the town. Anybody coming here would take one look at that and be embarrassed.

"It is just a waste of valuable space, when it could be utilised for the people of Bridgwater."

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Bridgwater Town Council said it plans to commission a feasibility study to see how local people would like the site developed.

Tim Mander, the Labour chair of the council's planning committee, said: "It's a big, prominent site. It's been left for far too long to disintegrate, and we need some action taken, looking at a future long-term use of the site."

News imageStuart Lawrence staring at the camera wearing an olive coloured hoodie. He is standing in front of the building. The wall behind him is painted purple.
Bridgwater resident Stuart Lawrence said the derelict building is letting the area down

In a statement Somerset Council said: "This is an active dangerous structure case being managed by our building control team.

"We have made a number of attempts to contact the owner, but have not yet received a response. As a result, a formal notice has been issued and affixed to the property.

"The structure is not considered to pose an immediate danger.

"Our next steps will be to seek legal action under Section 77 of the Building Act 1984 to ensure the necessary works are carried out to address the issue."

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