Third year lucky for the Imax?

1:00pm Wednesday 2nd January 2008

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FRUSTRATED members of Bournemouth's tourism trade are hoping 2008 might be the year something finally happens on the site of the town's defunct IMAX.

The giant-screen cinema in the Waterfront building was supposed to be a big wet-weather attraction for the resort but has been in darkness since early 2005.

"We would like to see it being used properly. We still need some form of quality attraction in this town.”

Alison Gandolfi, chairman of Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association

Two alternative uses for that site were vetoed by Bournemouth councillors following a meeting behind closed doors in November.

The town's tourist trade is hoping the venue will re-open, either as an IMAX or an alternative attraction, before long.

Alison Gandolfi, chairman of Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association, said: "We're looking for it to be open and functioning with some purpose.

"We don't know any more than anyone else. We would like to see it being used properly. We still need some form of quality attraction in this town."

The IMAX opened more than two years late in 2002 and did disappointing business. It closed for refurbishment at Easter 2005 and never re-opened.

The pension fund NILGOS, which holds the lease, has been involved in a lengthy legal dispute with cinema operator the Sheridan Group and has been looking for an alternative tenant.

Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader of Bournemouth Borough Council, said the council was frustrated by the delay.

"The two potential partners were rejected by the council within the terms of the head lease and there it rests," he said.

He added: "Obviously the borough, like everyone else in this town, would very much like something to happen to it. A lot of people look at it and think the council should do something. But the council are very limited in what they are legally entitled to do because of the complexity of the lease arrangements with it."

He said market conditions could make it harder for an operator to raise capital for a new leisure attraction than it would have been six months ago.