Cinema's future under spotlight

The row over the Imax has left Richard Smith "sick and tired"

The owners of an Imax cinema which closed its doors last year have been asked to spell out their future plans.

Council and tourism bosses have joined together and are to request an urgent meeting with the owners of the cinema in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Council leader Richard Smith said he was "sick and tired" of the owners "ducking their responsibilities".

But leaseholder Nilgosc said the council knew no decision could be taken until a legal row had been resolved.

'Ludicrous' comments

The waterfront cinema, which blocks seafront views and is regularly dubbed one of the country's ugliest buildings since it was opened in 2002, was shut in March 2005 for a refit but never reopened.

Now Bournemouth Borough Council, the Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association, the Bournemouth Tourism Action Group and local businesses are to request an urgent meeting with leaseholders Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (Nilgosc).

Mr Smith said: "I am sick and tired of the companies involved ducking their responsibilities on the waterfront building.

"It is staggering, given the levels of publicity and public outcry, that no efforts appear to have been made by Nilgosc to reopen a major attraction in this building."

Nilgosc took the cinema part of the building off operators Sheridan at the end of last year.

A legal challenge by Sheridan is due to be heard in June, Nilgosc's property adviser Jim Burgess said.

Case pending

He told the BBC News website: "For the council to say we are doing nothing is ludicrous. The council's statement is rubbish.

"The council officers are fully aware of the position, that the court case is pending.

"Until that is decided there's nothing we can do about it."

The cinema theatre has had numerous problems since its construction in 1998.

It opened nearly three years behind schedule and, in 2003, it was closed four days a week out of season.

The council has previously said that to buy the leasehold would mean a council tax rise to residents of about 5%.