PLANS to build a cinema in Ely have already started to gather pace, with councillors whittling down the site options to four from the original six.

East Cambridgeshire District Council says a cinema company has expressed an interest in building a cinema in the city and the authority is now keen to hear residents’ thoughts on where the new complex should go.

Originally, ECDC proposed six sites but, at a meeting of the Development and Transport Committee held last week, sites at the council offices on Grange Lane and land at the Paradise Centre were ruled out.

Councillors voted to begin a public consultation, which will outline sites which are available for development, and will take place between June and July to allow residents to have their say.

Ely councillor Tom Hunt, said: “Personally, I am fairly open minded regarding the precise location, being far more motivated by ensuring that a cinema comes to Ely full stop.

“My preference would be for a site in Ely that would allow for a speedy resolution of the leisure shortage problem. All of the options in the consultation have their merits, but some of the options would allow a far speedier resolution than others.”

Witchford councillor Ian Allen, added: “I think that in order to keep people coming into Ely and using the shops in town, locating the cinema in town would be the best option.

“If both the leisure centre and a potential new cinema were to be moved out of the centre it could have a very detrimental effect.”

Council leader Peter Moakes, said that a cinema complex would be important as East Cambridgeshire continued to grow and would form part of the Ely Materplan work which was carried out by officers and councillors.

For more information call 01353 665555 or logon to www.eastcambs.gov.uk

The site options:

Option 1 - Land at junction of Downham Road/A10: this site is proposed for a new Leisure Village for Ely, however, additional land is available for other complementary uses.

Option 2 - Ely Station Gateway area: this area was proposed for comprehensive redevelopment within the Ely Masterplan.

Option 3 - Land west of Cambridgeshire Business Park, Angel Drove: Tesco have indicated a desire to relocate to this area from their current site adjacent to the station.

Option 4 - North Ely: a 3,000 dwelling urban extension to Ely is proposed which will include areas of mixed-use development.