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| Why does Bradford care so much about a derelict cinema? | Why does Bradford care so much about a derelict cinema? |
| (7 days later) | |
| The vigorous campaign to save Bradford's historic Odeon cinema is gaining extra muscle, after winning a reprieve from the threat of imminent demolition. | The vigorous campaign to save Bradford's historic Odeon cinema is gaining extra muscle, after winning a reprieve from the threat of imminent demolition. |
| The 1930s Art Deco building with its iconic towers is located in the centre of Bradford. To its detractors, it might be an eyesore just aching to be pulled down, but it means much more than that to thousands of Bradfordians who have, over the last decade, backed the campaign to save the former cinema. In fact, the future of the Bradford Odeon is one of the most emotive issues in the city today. Not only does it symbolise local heritage and pride, it has also come to represent the value of local democracy. | The 1930s Art Deco building with its iconic towers is located in the centre of Bradford. To its detractors, it might be an eyesore just aching to be pulled down, but it means much more than that to thousands of Bradfordians who have, over the last decade, backed the campaign to save the former cinema. In fact, the future of the Bradford Odeon is one of the most emotive issues in the city today. Not only does it symbolise local heritage and pride, it has also come to represent the value of local democracy. |
| The historic building was known as the New Victoria when it first opened in the 1930s as one of the largest cinemas in the country, with an auditorium boasting some 3,000 seats (the Bradford Alhambra Theatre next door, another fine Bradford monument, seats just under 1,500). There was also a ballroom as well as a fancy restaurant. Known as the Gaumont during the 1950s, the building attracted the biggest names of its day to perform there - The Beatles, The Rolling Stores and Buddy Holly. A refit during the 1960s sadly obscured many of the original features and divided the large auditorium into several smaller screens, to maximise returns. | The historic building was known as the New Victoria when it first opened in the 1930s as one of the largest cinemas in the country, with an auditorium boasting some 3,000 seats (the Bradford Alhambra Theatre next door, another fine Bradford monument, seats just under 1,500). There was also a ballroom as well as a fancy restaurant. Known as the Gaumont during the 1950s, the building attracted the biggest names of its day to perform there - The Beatles, The Rolling Stores and Buddy Holly. A refit during the 1960s sadly obscured many of the original features and divided the large auditorium into several smaller screens, to maximise returns. |
| The Bradford Odeon finally closed in the 1990s, at the same time as the Leeds Odeon on The Headrow, when a suburban multiplex was launched at Thornbury on the site of the old English Electric works, halfway between Leeds and Bradford. While the Leeds Odeon now houses large retail outlets, the Bradford one has remained vacant, with the original façade virtually untouched ever since. | The Bradford Odeon finally closed in the 1990s, at the same time as the Leeds Odeon on The Headrow, when a suburban multiplex was launched at Thornbury on the site of the old English Electric works, halfway between Leeds and Bradford. While the Leeds Odeon now houses large retail outlets, the Bradford one has remained vacant, with the original façade virtually untouched ever since. |
| It was the threat of demolition which sparked a fierce battle, now a decade long, to save the building for possible renovation, attracting high profile support from such luminaries as Bradford born artist, David Hockney, who describes the Odeon: | It was the threat of demolition which sparked a fierce battle, now a decade long, to save the building for possible renovation, attracting high profile support from such luminaries as Bradford born artist, David Hockney, who describes the Odeon: |
| a splendid building that could be used for many imaginative things. | a splendid building that could be used for many imaginative things. |
Since the building was first threatened with demolition, Bradford has also become the world's first UNESCO City of Film in recognition of the city's rich film heritage, giving the preservationists further impetus. The Bradford Odeon is one of the UK's last remaining super-cinemas of the 1930s. | Since the building was first threatened with demolition, Bradford has also become the world's first UNESCO City of Film in recognition of the city's rich film heritage, giving the preservationists further impetus. The Bradford Odeon is one of the UK's last remaining super-cinemas of the 1930s. |
| The building is currently owned by the Government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), a non-departmental body tasked with funding new affordable housing in England. The agency inherited the building from Yorkshire Forward after the latter was abolished last year. Along with the building, the HCA also inherited the legally binding agreement which the former regional development agency Yorkshire Forward had already made with Langtree, who planned to develop the site. | The building is currently owned by the Government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), a non-departmental body tasked with funding new affordable housing in England. The agency inherited the building from Yorkshire Forward after the latter was abolished last year. Along with the building, the HCA also inherited the legally binding agreement which the former regional development agency Yorkshire Forward had already made with Langtree, who planned to develop the site. |
| They intended to dispose of the Odeon to make room for a development called New Victoria Place, made up of offices and flats as well as a hotel. But campaigners yesterday breathed a sigh of relief after the HCA terminated its agreement with Langtree, citing a breach in the terms after the developer requested more time than the binding paperwork allowed, in order to verify its plans, finance and tenants. | They intended to dispose of the Odeon to make room for a development called New Victoria Place, made up of offices and flats as well as a hotel. But campaigners yesterday breathed a sigh of relief after the HCA terminated its agreement with Langtree, citing a breach in the terms after the developer requested more time than the binding paperwork allowed, in order to verify its plans, finance and tenants. |
| So why do Bradfordians want to save a disused building that even the local authority appears to have written off? As a quick drive through the city centre confirms, there are at least four hotels just a stone's throw from the Odeon site, with a fifth recently built directly opposite. There are also ample offices and city centre apartments lying vacant to conclude that building any more would be foolhardy. | So why do Bradfordians want to save a disused building that even the local authority appears to have written off? As a quick drive through the city centre confirms, there are at least four hotels just a stone's throw from the Odeon site, with a fifth recently built directly opposite. There are also ample offices and city centre apartments lying vacant to conclude that building any more would be foolhardy. |
| More importantly, campaigners believe that the building has great architectural merit and huge capacity for regeneration. Moreover, they allege that the council has purposefully concealed the Odeon's development potential because it has a vested financial interest in the building's demolition. So much so that campaigners even gained access to the sealed site to post photographic evidence on YouTube, in order to confirm that the original features of the lavishly decorated interior are intact. Furthermore, there are doubts about the timing of the building being earmarked for demolition and an unconvincing consultation exercise. | More importantly, campaigners believe that the building has great architectural merit and huge capacity for regeneration. Moreover, they allege that the council has purposefully concealed the Odeon's development potential because it has a vested financial interest in the building's demolition. So much so that campaigners even gained access to the sealed site to post photographic evidence on YouTube, in order to confirm that the original features of the lavishly decorated interior are intact. Furthermore, there are doubts about the timing of the building being earmarked for demolition and an unconvincing consultation exercise. |
| Here is the YouTube clip made by Bradford Odeon Rescue Group showing features intact inside the neglected building. | Here is the YouTube clip made by Bradford Odeon Rescue Group showing features intact inside the neglected building. |
| The state of other parts of Bradford city centre have also earned the council a reputation for being uncertain in its handling of regeneration. Bradford has suffered a clutch of failed projects, the most prominent of which has been the proposed Westfield Shopping Centre. With planning permission granted and the old buildings flattened, developers backed out of the agreement because of the effects on investment of the recession. Ten years on, with few efforts made to make the site useable, Bradfordians continue to live with a "hole at the heart", known mockingly as 'Wastefield'. | The state of other parts of Bradford city centre have also earned the council a reputation for being uncertain in its handling of regeneration. Bradford has suffered a clutch of failed projects, the most prominent of which has been the proposed Westfield Shopping Centre. With planning permission granted and the old buildings flattened, developers backed out of the agreement because of the effects on investment of the recession. Ten years on, with few efforts made to make the site useable, Bradfordians continue to live with a "hole at the heart", known mockingly as 'Wastefield'. |
| It is this level of mistrust which has helped to maintain the thriving ten year campaign to save the abandoned cinema, and in the process take a stand against a leadership which is deemed to be needlessly obstructive and unsympathetic. Perhaps that's the underlying reason that Bradford cares so much about a derelict cinema – because it has also become a matter of principle. | It is this level of mistrust which has helped to maintain the thriving ten year campaign to save the abandoned cinema, and in the process take a stand against a leadership which is deemed to be needlessly obstructive and unsympathetic. Perhaps that's the underlying reason that Bradford cares so much about a derelict cinema – because it has also become a matter of principle. |
| Significantly, George Galloway recognised the importance of the Odeon campaign to the spirit of Bradford, and he was quick to cite the issue on his manifesto during his Bradford West by-election campaign in May. The campaign might not have become quite so passionate had locals felt that the decision-making process could be more transparent and just | Significantly, George Galloway recognised the importance of the Odeon campaign to the spirit of Bradford, and he was quick to cite the issue on his manifesto during his Bradford West by-election campaign in May. The campaign might not have become quite so passionate had locals felt that the decision-making process could be more transparent and just |
| The future meanwhile remains uncertain unless an imaginative and committed developer rapidly delivers a sustainable and viable plan, and ideally one which brings the building back to life and benefits the community. One idea recently mooted was to renovate the former cinema into a flagship music venue and arts space dedicated to the former Radio 1 DJ, John Peel. The proposed scheme is inspired by the successful John Peel Centre for Creative Arts in Stowmarket which not only acts as a hub for the community but also attracts quality performers. | The future meanwhile remains uncertain unless an imaginative and committed developer rapidly delivers a sustainable and viable plan, and ideally one which brings the building back to life and benefits the community. One idea recently mooted was to renovate the former cinema into a flagship music venue and arts space dedicated to the former Radio 1 DJ, John Peel. The proposed scheme is inspired by the successful John Peel Centre for Creative Arts in Stowmarket which not only acts as a hub for the community but also attracts quality performers. |
| Peel, who died in 2004, was dedicated to promoting young undiscovered talent. He also had strong links with Bradford, and was an honorary graduate of the city's university. Not only were these plans received enthusiastically by campaigners, the idea also received support on Twitter from Lord Richard Attenborough. | Peel, who died in 2004, was dedicated to promoting young undiscovered talent. He also had strong links with Bradford, and was an honorary graduate of the city's university. Not only were these plans received enthusiastically by campaigners, the idea also received support on Twitter from Lord Richard Attenborough. |
| Meanwhile the £24 million City Park development which has given Bradford the largest water feature in Europe is showing signs of winning sceptics over. It has begun to attract people back into the centre and to become a focal point. When the Alhambra Theatre had a photocall for this year's panto, Cinderella, they brought Cinders in her glass carriage along with her ugly sisters down to City Park. It's where Bradford Pride was held earlier this year, along Games in the Park and a series of mini pop-up events. The World Curry Festival is also taking place in Bradford for the first time this weekend - in the City Park. | Meanwhile the £24 million City Park development which has given Bradford the largest water feature in Europe is showing signs of winning sceptics over. It has begun to attract people back into the centre and to become a focal point. When the Alhambra Theatre had a photocall for this year's panto, Cinderella, they brought Cinders in her glass carriage along with her ugly sisters down to City Park. It's where Bradford Pride was held earlier this year, along Games in the Park and a series of mini pop-up events. The World Curry Festival is also taking place in Bradford for the first time this weekend - in the City Park. |
| Unbelievable as it sounds today, Sir Titus Salt's vast alpaca mill at Saltaire was considered for demolition back in the 1970s before the transformative work of Jonathan Silver and his family. It is today a UNESCO World Heritage site, a thriving cultural hub and also the most visited tourist attraction in Bradford. | Unbelievable as it sounds today, Sir Titus Salt's vast alpaca mill at Saltaire was considered for demolition back in the 1970s before the transformative work of Jonathan Silver and his family. It is today a UNESCO World Heritage site, a thriving cultural hub and also the most visited tourist attraction in Bradford. |
| There lies the hope, and there lies the challenge. As the Twitter account for Odeon.SAVE IT appealed last night: | There lies the hope, and there lies the challenge. As the Twitter account for Odeon.SAVE IT appealed last night: |
| WANTED: Responsible #Developer to restore #BradfordOdeon to it's former glory now she's been reprieved! | WANTED: Responsible #Developer to restore #BradfordOdeon to it's former glory now she's been reprieved! |
| Irna Qureshi is an anthropologist and writer specialising in British Asian culture. She also blogs candidly about being British, Pakistani, Muslim and female in Bradford. | Irna Qureshi is an anthropologist and writer specialising in British Asian culture. She also blogs candidly about being British, Pakistani, Muslim and female in Bradford. |
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