A CONTROVERSIAL plan to turn one of Stockport's last independent cinemas into a pub has been unanimously rejected by councillors.Although the applicants could appeal against the decision to throw out the application by the Barracuda Group Ltd for the Savoy Cinema at Heaton Moor, members of the Four Heatons area committee felt there was such a strong case against it they all voted for refusal.
Mr Critchley said it would increase congestion and make parking problems worse and increase the already large number of places to drink alcohol in Heaton Moor.
He added they had been that a cinema operator in Macclesfield was interested in the Savoy.
Mr Des Dunlop, of the Barracuda Group, said the firm would spend £1 million on the pub which would create 35 part- and full-time jobs.
He warned that the Savoy would close whatever the outcome of the application because it could not compete with the cinema complex at Parrswood. It now attracted only around 50 people a week. At one time the figure was as high as 600.
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