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Chronicle Live
National
James Robinson

Berwick families fear they will be able to hear new cinema from their gardens

Plans for a temporary cinema in Berwick have been given the go-ahead by councillors despite concern from neighbours.

The temporary site will be used while the current theatre at The Maltings undergoes a multi-million pound refurbishment, and is expected to be in place for the next three years.

Once the new Maltings is completed, the temporary cinema at the barracks' Mob Store will be adapted into a facility to house the town's extensive archives.

Read more: 58 affordable homes to be built in Berwick to help families living in 'awful' conditions

However, homeowners on Ravensdene next to the town's barracks fear they will be able to hear the noise from the 96-seat facility from their gardens during screenings. Speaking at Thursday's meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Committee, resident Jo Montgomery argued the case for her and her neighbours.

She said: "I'm speaking on behalf of those closest and most affected by this. I will be able to listen to all the screenings from my garden.

"When we first saw the plans we were surprised and then shocked. It is a poor space for the residents of the town.

"Having been born and brought up in Berwick, I take a lot of pride in the heritage of our town. I fully support bringing the barracks back into use, but there are too many unresolved issues.

"If this is approved, our only recourse would be to seek a judicial review."

But council planners had recommended the proposals for approval, and members voted to grant planning permission in line with this.

Coun Trevor Thorne said: "I'm doing this because I feel that our colleagues from public protection have really bottomed out the containment of the noise. I am reassured by the head of planning that we're going to look at all measures to make sure we contain the noise in the building as much as possible.

"I feel the officers have done a really good job on this. I think we've done our bit to lessen the impact."

Coun Colin Hardy added: "I speak as a local resident and someone who has had the privilege of being in the barracks. I will be supporting this.

"I have sympathy with the residents, and I would have used a similar argument to stop the hospital being built, which is just outside my door - but we all have to take a little bit of pain from time to time to support the betterment of the town."

Berwick Barracks are Grade I Listed buildings and are amongst the first purpose-built barracks to be built in England, completed in 1721. The Mob Store dates from the early 20th century and was used to store military equipment.

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