OPPOSITION to plans to close one of Stockport's only two remaining independent cinemas is growing.
The Stockport Express's website has been inundated with messages from local residents - and one from as far away as Australia - objecting to the plans to close the Savoy in Heaton Moor and replace it with a pub.
A planning application for the scheme has been submitted to Stockport Council by the Barracuda Group Limited.
But the decision by the Savoy's owner, Chinese businesswoman Lisa Fan, has aroused strong feelings among the many people who have e-mailed the Express about the prospect of the last picture show being screened there soon.
Among the objections to the closure plans are:
- Paul Catlow, Heaton Moor: "Surely it is going to be to the detriment of Heaton Moor if this local amenity goes. No thanks, let's keep the Savoy."
- Stuart Jones, Heaton Norris: "If anyone on the council has a soul they won't give planning permission.
- BTF, Heaton Moor: "Closing the Savoy will only increase the number of youths on the streets."
- Alison Corney, Manchester: "My friends and I were hoping to buy in Heaton Moor but I have been put off by this news."
- George Bowden, Armadale, West Australia: "The Savoy brings back many happy memories. Over 60 years ago we used to go there often."
- Darren, Reddish: "What is the point of closing down a cinema to convert it to a pub when there is one across the road. It doesn't make any sense."
- John Walker, Heaton Moor: "I think the big problem is with film distributors. It is a shame the council can't work to find a solution, perhaps using it as an arts venue for the Heatons. Save Our Savoy!"
- Carly, Heaton Moor: "I have lived next to the Savoy for 18 years. I got my first job there as an usherette and loved it to pieces. I'm gutted the inevitable has happened."
- Rachel Lennie, Heaton Moor: "I was most upset to hear the news of the closure of the Savoy. How dare they close it down!"
- Simon, Heaton Moor: "This is the worst news for the local community for a long time."
- Beth, Heaton Moor: "This is the worst news I have heard all year. Now local kids will have nowhere to go for a night out with friends."
- Lauren, Heaton Mersey: "Please campaign for us. We'd have gone more often if we'd have known."
- Daisy, Heaton Chapel: "I am truly concerned about the removal of this local amenity."
- Gemma Buston, Heaton Mersey: "I have many memories of the Savoy cinema and do not wish them to be drowned by beer."
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Ken Wood, Cheadle Heath (23/08/2006 at 11:25)
Bill, Stockport Heritage Trust, Edgeley (23/08/2006 at 13:03)
See: http://stockporttrust.blogspot.com/2006/08/could-savoy-become-youth-centre.html
Hazel McCabe, New York Metropolitan area, USA (24/08/2006 at 03:11)
jamie, heaton moor (24/08/2006 at 16:46)
People of Heaton Moor really need to re-think when they put their names down on the petitions going round. When was the last time you went to watch a film at the Savoy Cinema?... chances are it was hardly¿¿¿ because if it was regularly the cinema wouldn¿¿TMt be closing!
People are just signing the petition for the hell of it, I understand where the owners are coming from because I use to run a business on Heaton Moor Road, it collapsed as each month I was getting less and less customers and when I finally closed, I was hassled by members of the public why I closed my business. The actual people who are suffering with the closure of the cinema are the owners, they have to put with constant whinging of the public since it was announced that it was in trouble and also with poor attendance. E.g. loss of money. Why cannot people of Heaton Moor mind their own business rather than others?
Frank Rowe (ex Stoconian) age 62, Perth, West Australia. (28/08/2006 at 07:46)
As said by the gent from Armadale WA - I - and no doubt thousands of other old Stoconians - hold fond memories of such as the Plaza, Super, Essoldo, Ritz, Wellington, Don etc etc.
Lets try and reserve more of these iconic memorials - to be treated with honor & respect they deserve!!
Frank Rowe.
Liz Dent, Heaton Moor (28/08/2006 at 11:59)
All 5 in the family love it and really value it as a cinema. In fact why cant we all get to gether and own it as a co-operative and run it as our local arts centre. Come on its great to have an independant cinema here. Such potential to carry on. Isnt there some way we can oppose this plan for another pub and look at the potential for a resource that suits all ages in the Heatons.
The Dent family
Gary Fildes, Heaton Mersey (28/08/2006 at 22:40)
Steve Gilson, Heaton Moor (30/08/2006 at 10:33)
Nick Barry, Heaton Moor (30/08/2006 at 11:00)
E-mail them now!
Kirk Crager, Norris bank, Stockport (03/09/2006 at 22:25)
www.truehope.co.uk
JOhn Wojowski, Hulme, Manhester M15 (06/09/2006 at 17:01)
Paco, burnage (07/09/2006 at 12:20)
Derek Smith, Conwall (07/09/2006 at 16:58)
Paco, burnage (08/09/2006 at 09:43)
walter and sue korchinsky, heaton moor (14/09/2006 at 09:00)
Bill Jordan, Chichester, West Sussex (14/09/2006 at 17:24)
What an awful thought. Keep it as a cinema.
james, crompton (27/09/2006 at 10:47)
james, crompton (27/09/2006 at 10:50)
JAMES CROMPTON, LEYLAND
Update, Heaton Moor (29/09/2006 at 00:17)
The application is to be dealt with by the Four Heatons Area Committee on Wednesday 4th October at 6.00 pm in the Town Hall Council Chamber.
Demi Morgan, Burnage (30/09/2006 at 01:20)
Derek Morgan, Burnage (30/09/2006 at 01:30)
LLB, Heaton Moor (03/10/2006 at 01:07)
Update, Heaton Moor (04/10/2006 at 22:43)
Kirk Crager, Norris bank (06/10/2006 at 00:54)
As you can see this would be ideal for the people of Heaton Moor as there will not be any drunken behaviour on the streets as many people have stressed if the cinema was turned into a pub.
Judith Beckett, Stockport (12/10/2006 at 13:46)
Silver screen for senior citizens.
Car flicks nights,- stuff like the Italian job (could show old and new back to back)Rock music films,
Educational films, cult movies etcetera.
What about the Blue Cat people taking it on, or get the council to help fund it as an arts venue.
I am so glad the pub idea has been refused but surely there could be an entrepreneur out there. The plaza promised this but it really only appeals to the over 55s, surely there must be someone out there with the money. What about one of our ageing rock stars, it could be used as a venue for bands to practise in as well as an alternative cinema.