Nikki Thomson 0

Save the old Odeon on Edinburgh's Clerk Street

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The former Odeon cinema building on Clerk Street has been lying empty for a number of years now, and we are concerned that the building is deteriorating to the point where it will be said to be "beyond economic repair". We would like to see the building brought back to life, as it were, restored to its former glory, and open as a cinema / arts venue.

When it closed as an Odeon, back in 2003, it was bought by Duddingston House Properties, who drew up plans to convert the main auditorium space into a hotel. Their plans involved a partial demolition of the building, and a loss of many fine architectural features.Historic Scotland stepped in, and as a result DHP were refused Listed Building Consent to make the changes they planned. The building was put back on the market, and in January 2011 a number of bids were received by DHP.We are now waiting to see what DHP will do. Will they accept one of the offers they have been made? Or will they apply again to the City of Edinburgh Council to carry out their plans of partial demolition?

We are concerned about the state of the building. We have seen photos showing how water and vermin have been getting in, and how the fabric of the building is falling apart.We have now written to CEC asking them to initiate urgent repairs on the building, and also to start compulsory purchase proceedings to buy the building from DHP and sell it to someone who will restore it and bring it back to use.

Paper copies of this petition are available in many locations on the Southside, and can be downloaded from the Community Council's website at www.edinscc.org. This petition will be mailed (in snail and email format) to the Council. If you support our efforts to save this iconic building and bring it back into use please sign below.

We call on the City of Edinburgh Council to take action to rescue the former Odeon building on Clerk Street.

CEC should:
1. Initiate urgent compulsory repairs to make the building wind and water tight and halt the deterioration that has taken place over the past few years.
2. Set in motion compulsory purchase proceedings so that ownership of the building can be transferred to someone who will fully restore it and bring it back into use as a cinema and arts venue.

Sponsor

This petition is sponsored by Southside Community Council, a body of elected members representing the local community of the Southside, Edinburgh. Please return any downloaded paper petitions to: Southside Community Council Nelson Hall 6 Spittalfield Crescent Edinburgh EH8 9QZ

Links

Southside Community Council is leading this campaign to save the old Odeon. 

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Follow us on Twitter.  We're there as @save_our_cinema.
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