A NEW 'cinema' is set to screen films in Launceston — more than a quarter of a century since the Tower Cinema turned off its projector for the last time.

Ahead of the proposed major refurbishment and improvement of Laun­ceston Town Hall, the Town Council has agreed to underwrite the £500 cost of putting on a season of films this coming winter — a forerunner of a more established set-up in the years to come.

The proposed re-vamping of the Town Hall includes provision for film nights and live shows may also follow once the scheme is completed. The hall is likely to close for renovation next year.

Launceston Town Council plans to team up with Carn to Cove, the Cornish scheme for organising professional performing arts in the community.

Carn to Cove helped both Bude and Camelford to set up regular cinema, with the help of funding from for former North Cornwall District Council.

At its recent meeting at the Guildhall, the town council backed the idea.

'AWARE OF DEFICIENCY'

The Mayor, Cllr Paul O'Brien, said: "It is something we have had in the back of our minds for a long time but we thought it would be on the back of the Town Hall refurbishment.

"We are well aware of the deficiency in the town of a cinema."

Carn to Cove provides prjection equipment and projectionist support and a film booking service to communities in the scheme.

Tim Smithies, of Carn to Cove, has told the town council that they been involved in setting up community cinemas in Bude and Camelford.

"As Launceston has no cinema, I would like to propose that we fix a season of screenings in the winter."

Initially, he proposed a season of six screenings... If successful and they found local supporters, they would discover there was demand for more.

"We need to locate a voluntary group or a volunteer locally who will provide support in the form of ticket tearing, putting out chairs etc

TOP FILMS

In Camelford, they asked the Women's Institute to provide snacks and teas and the revenue generated from these sales remained with the community group and could be more substantial than the ticket takings.

"The key element to success in Bude we found was simply starting it and then finding a group of three volunteers — all film buffs and one retired projectionist — who managed the membership, set up a website, raised the grant money for their own projection gear and are now flying."

The format was a short film, followed by a short interval and then the main feature film.

Films they screen as the main feature last season included 'Mamma Mia' (family), 'The Last King of Scotland,' 'Atonement,' 'Enchanted' and 'The Chorus' (popular foreign film).

Mr Smithies added: "We cannot get brand new releases but ones which have been on release for about two months before release on DVD."