"Cinema reassurances welcome but very late" - Rendel

9.36.47am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Aug 2007

Lib Dem pressure has finally spurred the Tories into action on the cinema

Responding to the news that Alanis have provided reassurances the Kennet Centre cinema will go ahead after crunch talks with West Berkshire Council's Conservatives; Councillor David Rendel is asking why it has taken so long to get to this point.

"It is absolutely appalling that it has taken two and a half years for the Tories to extract vague promises to go ahead with a scheme that was ready to deliver a cinema for Newbury when Liberal Democrats left control in 2005. Why haven't they been pressing for this continuously?", asked Councillor Rendel, "It is only as a result of Lib Dem pressure over recent months that they have even bothered to try and contact Alanis. We will be keeping this issue very much on our radar to make sure the Tories do not drop the ball again."

Lib Dem leader Jeff Brooks added:

"It is good to hear Alanis have agreed to meet regularly with the council to discuss progress, but disappointing that this was not happening anyway as Mr Jones would have us believe. What has stopped these meetings from taking place over the past two years apart from Tory inertia? I will believe they are capable of delivering a cinema only when I'm in the queue for popcorn, but am pleased Liberal Democrat pressure has again kicked the Tories into action."