Campaign hots up

Pub developer Regent Inns has launched another offensive to try to convert the rented building into an Australian theme bar after magistrates in Durham rejected an application for a drinks licence.

Police and people who live in the area objected to another pub in North Road because they feared it would attract trouble makers, but Regents Inns is appealing against the decision in a hearing due to take place at Durham Crown Court on October 28.

Sharon McCourt, manageress of Taylor's Newsagents opposite the cinema in North Road, started a petition to keep the city's only cinema about two weeks ago and has collected 1,900 signatures. She presented the petition to Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg on Wednesday.

She said:"We've had people coming in off the streets especially to sign the petition because they've read about it in the newspapers.

"We've had lots of phone calls from people saying, 'I can't get into Durham, can you put my name on it?"

Mr Steinberg said he would be making sure the petition would be presented to the courts for the appeal hearing. He said it would be a great shame if the cinema closed.

"Police have enough problems policing North Road on a weekend without another pub, which would cause even more problems."

If the bid is successful, people will have to travel to the multiplex cinemas at the MetroCentre in Gateshead or Boldon or, to the Odeon at Darlington.

It is not the first time the future of The Robins has been threatened. Part of the original plans for Durham's Millennium City, the recently-built development that includes the Gala Theatre, involved a multiplex cinema on Walkergate, which would almost certainly have sounded the death knell for The Robins.

The Robins manageress Brenda Ryder said: "With a licence application the fact that Durham is going to lose its only cinema wouldn't really be an issue, but it might just raise awareness. It's good to know so many people care about the cinema."