Council lost almost a quarter of a million pounds in 'failed' Nuneaton town centre cinema

[dutchman]

The large grey building is now going to be used as a padel tennis centre



Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council lost almost a quarter of a million pounds in the 'failed' Nuneaton town centre cinema plan. A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that it cost £230,962 to pull out of the deal.

The 'large grey building' on the Grayson Place development off Abbey Street was supposed to play home to a new cinema, but the council pulled the plug on the deal last year and now it will be a new padel tennis court.

County councillor Keith Kondakor said that he had been raising concerns about the cinema plan since December 2022, way before the decision was taken to end the deal with the Really Local Group.

RLG has since gone into liquidation. He said that the £230,000 figure is likely to be higher as he has requested further information - which has not been revealed.

He said: "Can the cabinet member explain why the rest of my request to provide the contracts and correspondence with the failed firm has not happened given that there is no need to protect the commercial interest of this failed firm?!

In response, Cllr Nicky King, cabinet member for business and regeneration, said: "After taking control in 2024, we (Labour) realised the whole of Grayson Place phase two and three needed urgent attention.

"Part of this was to review the cinema proposal, which we decided to stop and reconsider the use of the leisure box.

"The reason I won't be providing contract and correspondence with any companies is because it is a legal agreement and is commercially sensitive which I am really sure, Cllr Kondakor, being a county councillor, you will totally understand this."

Keith Kondakor is standing for the Milby seat in the forthcoming Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council elections as the Green Party candidate. Paul Biggs is standing for Reform UK, Michael Fowler for Labour Party and Harvey Gill for the Conservative Party.

In the St Mary's ward, Nicky King is standing for the Labour Party. Jon-Paul Clift is the Reform UK candidate, Steven Gee is standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Scott Harbison for the Conservative Party and Richard Heathcock is the Green Party candidate.