Vandals plaguing £2 million cinema revamp
Vandals and thieves are targeting a historic cinema – but developers have vowed its £2m restoration will go-ahead as planned.
Yobs have been plaguing the 1930s-built former Gaumont Cinema in Wednesbury.
Workers on site clearing the way for the re-development have had around £2,000 worth of tools stolen from inside the building along with a TV worth around £800.
On top of this builders on the project had around £4,000 worth of tools stolen from their van parked outside the Metro Inns hotel in Walsall last Thursday.
But the man behind the plans – Adam Cunard – has vowed that work will still go-ahead in the new year on restoring the art deco landmark in Walsall Street into a 900-seater five screen cinema, creating 30 jobs. It will be the first time films have been shown there in 40 years.
Managing director of Picturedrome Cinemas Mr Cunard said: “We’ve had a lot of trouble with kids going on the roof.
“It’s a real problem – there’s nothing we can really do, it’s really difficult. Last week we had around £4,000 worth of tools nicked from our van outside our hotel.
“It was just disappointing – we have never had this issue anywhere else, we have had the odd break in. We had a break in about three weeks ago, we have had a lot of problems with youths trying to get in. We’re looking at starting in January – the police have been great, I can’t fault them.”
Wednesbury North councillor Elaine Costigan said: “It’s just frightening. Mr Cunard is such a lovely chap, he’s come to the rescue of a cinema and he’s getting all this hassle.”
The Gaumont opened in 1938. It became an Odeon in 1964 and its success continued.
A brief spell as The Silver in the 1970s ended when the cinema was bought by Ladbrokes and opened as a bingo club. The business was later taken on by Walkers before closing in 2010.
