Q: What is the District Council's role in the cinema development in Bricket Road?

A: The District Council is the landowner of the car park site located in Bricket Road. Following careful research, the District Council identified the site as a possible location for a development to bring the cinema back to St Albans and invited expressions of interest. The District Council is also the planning authority responsible for judging any planning applications that are submitted for approval.

Q: Why was the Bricket Road site chosen?

A: The District Council has a role in serving the Community. Being aware of the desire for a cinema within the city, easily accessible to everyone. The District Council investigated the availability of a suitable site and identified their own Bricket Road site, which was offered as a possible location for a cinema development. Tenders were invited for a project to develop the site and to lease the land for 150 years.

Q: If a cinema is needed why did the District Council include housing, restaurants and car parking as well as a cinema?

A: The District Council does not require that any scheme should include housing. A deliberate decision was made, not to specify what should be included in the scheme, other than a cinema and car parking, because this might restrict the developers' ideas. Eight companies made submissions and in April 2004, the District Council approved the selection of Henry Davidson Ltd as the preferred bidder. All the schemes considered included housing as a means of generating revenue, and because of this, the District Council stated that any housing scheme must include affordable housing.

Q: Why couldn't the cinema be built on top of the existing car park?

A: The current car park was built in the sixties, however the specification of the foundations is unavailable. In any case it is unlikely that these would comply with modern requirements. In addition the existing car park is of a poor standard, both structurally and aesthetically. To preserve its structure is commercially unattractive and unlikely to find favour with potential occupiers, including a cinema operator.

Q: Why couldn't the old Odeon cinema site in the London Road be turned into a small cinema again - do we need such a large cinema?

A: Whilst the District Council owns the land where the Bricket Road car park is located, it does not own the Odeon site. The new proposal for the cinema in Bricket Road includes 900 seats and 7 screens, whereas the capacity of the old Odeon was larger. The London Road site had hardly any car parking and was not easily accessible by bus, compared to the Bricket Road site, which is in the city centre.

Q: Is there a cinema operator and who are they?

A: The District Council's contract with the developer Henry Davidson Ltd, stipulates the need for them to have a contract with a reputable cinema operator. They are working closely with a company, and whilst the contract with the District Council requires confidentiality at this point, there is and always has been, a reputable cinema operator.

Q: How has the District Council 'listened' to residents?

A: Given the District Council's role as the landowner of the Bricket Road site and also the planning authority responsible for judging all planning applications, there are several ways in which the Council has listened to what residents have said. They have passed on all comments received, to the developer, and encouraged people to attend the exhibitions and consultation sessions held by the developer.

Now that the new plan has been submitted, it is available to view at the Council's offices and on the Council's website www.stalbans.gov.uk. Feedback can be emailed to planning@stalbans.gov.uk and telephone queries can be made by calling 01727 819345.

Q: How can the District Council officers and Councillors manage the dual roles of judging the planning application whilst supporting the idea of having a cinema in St Albans again?

A: The District Council actually has three roles: landowner, planning authority and a community leadership role. The role of landowner is explained above but also allowed the District Council to take a more active role in Community Leadership by offering the site for a much needed cinema scheme.

The planning application will be assessed on its merits, by the councillors and officers who will be preparing the report on the application, and advising the Council's planning referrals committee. The committee will consider the application based upon planning issues only.