COMMUNITY ownership could be the way to save one of Glasgow's oldest cinemas, according to one local politician.
Councillor Ricky Bell has spearheaded a petition to bring Govan’s historic Lyceum Cinema into community ownership after years of disuse.
In a video posted to social media, Bell: “I think this is the time for us in Govan to say we need to take this building back into public ownership and to make it a proper facility.”
“I am asking everyone who lives in Central Govan to sign the petition today. To support the Lyceum Cinema to be used for the good of the people of Govan.”
He told The National that he is “confident” the campaign will achieve the required number of signatures.
“The petition is the next stage to show community interest for this building and to ensure we secure its future as a community facility and for the people of Govan.”
The petition is open to Govan residents, with campaigners going door-to-door seeking support in-person. The campaign will be reaching out to the wider community for ideas on how to use the space once enough signatures have been secured.
Labour MSP Paul Sweeney (below), who is a keen campaigner around preserving Glasgow's history, commented: “It has been frustrating to watch [The Lyceum Cinema’s] continued decline since it closed as a bingo hall in 2006.
“I fully support this effort by Councillor Bell, particularly after the botched planning application by the current owner, stalling efforts to bring the building back into productive use.
“It is clear to me that a change in ownership is now necessary if the Lyceum is to have a future.
“I would be keen to see the 2017 proposal for the Govan Housing Association to acquire the building revived – via a back-to-back Compulsory Purchase Order if necessary – as they are probably the best-placed community organisation with sufficient scale to take on the project.”
The Lyceum Cinema was opened in 1938 replacing the Lyceum Theatre which had burned down the previous year.
Designed by Charles McNair, architect of the ABC on Sauchiehall Street, the Lyceum Cinema originally sat 2600. The building was sold in 1974 and partially became a bingo hall. The building was then sold to Gala Bingo in 2006 who then closed the building down the same year.
The B listed Lyceum Cinema has been in disuse ever since and is now on the Buildings at Risk list. This year, the building’s owner, Mohammad Choudhry, was granted a licence to sell alcohol on the premises.
