THE Cornish firm looking to convert Okehampton?s market hall into a modern multi-screen cinema say they are still ?excited and enthusiastic? about the project, despite a delay in tying up details of the ambitious scheme. Merlin Cinemas say they hope to be in a position to begin work on securing building regulations approval and certain planning aspects for the scheme after the end of this month. Geoff Greaves, director of Merlin Cinemas said: ?We are still very excited about converting the market hall.? But he said the firm was only a small one, and could not move onto the Okehampton project until it had completed work on another cinema project, which was currently behind schedule. Departing mayor of Okehampton Tony Leech has worked hard for much of his two years in office to resurrect a cinema in the town, following the closure of the fondly-remembered Carlton Cinema in 2003. Although Cllr Leech was disappointed the project was not further forward as he handed on the chains of office this week, he was still positive about the scheme. He said: ?We need Okehampton to grow and prosper. The more we have in Okehampton to draw people in and keep them here the better. A modern cinema would be good for the town.? Okehampton Town Council met Merlin Cinemas last week, when the company said due to delays in a cinema restoration project in Ilfracombe, which was around two months behind schedule, they would not be able to progress the market hall project until that current work was completed at the end of the month. Cllr Leech said: ?I was happy with the outcome. They don?t want the delays any more than we do, but these things can happen when you carry out building work. Quite rightly they want to do one job at a time. ?Ilfracombe is a really big project, ours will be a minnow in comparison, because up there, they have basically had to completely rebuild the building.? Merlin Cinemas had originally hoped to have the cinema up and running by this summer. Merlin Cinemas architect has already prepared some drawings for the conversion of the cinema, and the company favours a two-screen building. The mayor said given this delay, the council had more time to continue working with the present users of the market hall to find them alternative accommodation in the town. Cllr Leech said: ?What we have been asking for in the last three months is for people to come forward with ideas for more integrated markets. ?We need people to put together a plan and come to us, and we have already had some interest from traders.? Okehampton Auctions are due to hold their monthly sale next week in the Charter Hall, but are still hoping the council may allow them to remain in the market hall for as long as possible. Town clerk Don Bent said there may still be room for discussion on the sale venue for the next few months. Caroline Shaw, of Okehampton Auctions, said: ?The council told us it was going to be all signed and sealed by now. I think this is just stalling.? Mr Greaves said had the firm been able to sign up to renovate the Carlton Cinema as they would have liked, the project would have been completed ahead of the Ilfracombe one, but as they had committed to the lfracombe cinema first they needed to see that project through. He added: ?It is not a deliberate stalling tactic, we are still enthusiastic about the Okehampton scheme.?