PEOPLE in west Wiltshire have been told a cinema is still a possibility in the district.

Proposals to build a leisure village on land at Yarnbrook, off the A350 at Picket Wood, took a step forward this week, with a mystery developer keen to move the project forward.

Consultant Andrew Black, who has been working on the project for over a year, concluded negotiations with a developer on Monday.

Mr Black said: "I can bring a cinema to this area. No town will sustain a cinema on its own, it is not feasible economically, but the unique geography of the area with the five towns makes it possible to put a cinema into the area which would be accessible.

"We have confidence the district has the population to sustain a modern cinema along with other entertainment and leisure facilities."

He said cinema operators work on the premise that people should be able to reach the leisure complex in 30 minutes, which the A350, already served by buses, makes possible.

"It would be a good idea to seriously look again at the proposals now rather than wait for the overall supreme plan for Trowbridge. This will take several years to achieve results."

He said the project he was working on could be a reality much sooner.

Mr Black said: "The technology of the cinema world moves quickly on and cinema operators today usually only take up an initial lease of seven years.

"If we could build a cinema to become operative within the next nine months the population could enjoy the facility much sooner.

"It is apparent that the building in the centre of the town is going to require a great deal longer to conclude its overall plan."

Mr Black announced the progress at the Trowbridge Town Forum in the Civic Hall on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Ligo, chief executive of West Wiltshire District Council, said the scheme would face problems in the planning process.

He said use of the Yarnbrook site for such a development was not promoted in the district plan and would face difficulty because planning policy has become tighter in recent years.

The Yarnbrook scheme was first announced publicly in January last year with the news a seven-screen cinema operator was interested, and has been discussed with various developers and cinema operators.

Ideas include the possibility of sports facilities such as a ski slope and bowling alley.

Talks are also being held with Trowbridge Town Football Club about the possibility of a move to the site.

Mr Black said: "There is a cinema operator of national status ready to come to west Wiltshire with a unique mix of operators."

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