Grantham Journal letter: Do we really need multi-screen?

I fully agree with Derek Steptoe’s letter (Letters 6 May) questioning the need for yet more cafes in Grantham which has seen many cafes come and go in the last few years, including the large one in the George Centre which has had several owners/names recently, only to bite the dust each time.

Also, has anyone questioned if we really need a large Multi-screen cinema in this day of 24/7 films available via Sky, the internet and DVD players etc? Has anyone actually asked the REEL Cinema for a full breakdown of tickets sold over the last 6 or 12 months? Certainly my family has visited The Reel only once since the days of The Paragon as we prefer to watch films in the comfort of our own home, like many other families no doubt.

I agree that the new multi-screen will be yet another very expensive White Elephant as Mr Steptoe suggests, like the so-called “improvements” to Westgate which have proved to be nothing but a continuing pain for shoppers, motorists who can’t find a parking space and retailers who still are suffering from a lack of customers!

I also find it incredible that a tiny handful of people have decided to demolish the lovely building which houses the Council Chamber and was purpose built at great expense only a relatively few years ago and paid for by local tax payers.

How come the Council can afford to destroy this splendid building on a whim, yet the same Council has reduced opening times for our town library and waste disposal services in Alexander Terrace, reduced Warden services for the Supported Housing Schemes at Riverside, Witham Place, Greyfriars etc to the absolute minimum, reduced funding for events in Grantham such as the St George’s Day celebrations AND increased the charges for Green Bin collections by a massive 40% from £25 to £35 in April etc?

It is time that SKDC looked long and hard at its budget, like the rest of us have to, and dismissed any ideas of unnecessary major expenditure, especially the unbelievable proposed demolition of the Council Chambers. All that is required is a new building in St Catherine’s Road for the Senior Citizens and maybe an upgrade to the existing cinema. Please think again SKDC.

L North

Dudley Road, Grantham