FURTHER to your front page article of June 30 regarding yet another outlandish planning application for the disused former Regal cinema in Port Street and the earlier efforts of the action group set up to save the cinema, the question must be asked Do the people of Evesham want a cinema? And more to the point do they deserve to have one?

An enthusiastic committee of volunteers launched cinema facilities at the well-appointed Evesham Arts Centre in January this year and despite their best efforts even after screening current release films attendance's were an absolute disaster. Undeterred it is hoped that a re-start can be made in September with the emphasis on the people of Evesham supporting a 'friends of the cinema' league to ensure that the adage of ' use it or lose it' will apply. Seating just over 300 the Arts Centre Cinema needs a minimum of 50 patrons at each screening to be able to remain as part of this family leisure complex - is this asking too much from the people of Evesham?

The old Regal (being a listed building) should not be destined to become trashed as a night club/casino/takeaway with or without the monstrosity of rooftop apartments instead it should be fully restored to it's former splendour to provide what it was originally built for - a place with atmosphere for family enjoyment.

Perhaps the wisdom of the Wychavon planning authority will prevail in refusing this latest unrealistic application and not be influenced by the so-called cautious welcome it got from English Heritage.

PETER THACKERAY, Cinema Historian, Mead Close, Moreton.