Campaigners fighting to secure the future of a Bowness cinema have received the backing of Cumbria County Council.
In an unexpected move, the county council has signalled its formal opposition to the decision by South Lakeland’s Liberal Democrat District Council to put the Royalty Cinema on a list of sites for future redevelopment.
Local campaigners have been calling on the district council to remove the cinema from a list of sites it has submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority’s new redevelopment blueprint.
In its formal response to the National Park’s draft Local Plan, the county council’s Cabinet has objected to the redevelopment of the cinema and its car park.
Earlier this month, Windermere campaigner Jane Hoyle was joined by cinema manager Charles Morris and other supporters at the presentation of 400-signature petition to South Lakeland District Council in opposition to its decision to put the council-owned site up for redevelopment.
Windermere councillor Ben Berry said: “The county council’s decision to object to the inclusion of the Royalty Cinema on a list of sites for future redevelopment leaves South Lakeland’s Liberal Democrat District Council looking increasingly isolated.
“The Royalty is too important to be left to the whims of developers for the next 15-years. It’s time for the district council to finally see sense and withdraw the site from the National Park’s Local Plan before it is approved.”