THE Carlton Cinema in Okehampton is to be demolished for redevelopment, after a revised plan to create 15 flats on the site was approved by councillors. The plans to build a three-storey building with 15 two bedroom flats to replace the art deco cinema in St James Street were approved at West Devon?s planning meeting held in Okehampton on Tuesday. A previous application by developers Gray Brothers was rejected earlier this year. The revised application to provide 15 flats, parking, garaging and amenity areas was submitted following negotiations by the applicants. Cllr Ken Williams, ward member for Okehampton West, said he was concerned about the density of flats at the location. He said: ?I can understand why an applicant wants to have as many flats as he can there, they are the sort of flats that are wanted in Okehampton, however I wonder are they over-egging the pudding.? Cllr Jayne Hill (Okehampton West) was not present at the meeting, but asked for her views on the application to be read out. Cllr Hill said she was concerned about the height of the building causing over-domination of the area and impact on future residents of the noise from the adjacent pub beer garden. She was also concerned that the amenity area at the front of the building might become a place for the people to congregate at pub closing time, and would be ?totally inappropriate and not in keeping with the street scene?. Okehampton Town Council also registered its opposition to the scheme. The council acknowledged that the Carlton Cinema was a ?prime town centre site, suitable for residential development?, but said it objected on grounds of over-dominance, density, traffic flow, parking provision and noise. Chair of the committee Cllr Roger Mathew said he found the idea that the proposal would over-dominate the area ?a bit quaint?. Cllr Mathew said: ?I think I would be welcoming this sort of accommodation in Okehampton, when there is a need for it. ?I do understand the nostalgic memories some people have for the cinema, but I do hope members will bite the bullet and welcome a change to the street scene.? The cinema was built in the 1930s and run by the Pope family until two years ago. Following councillors? vote to support the officer?s recommendation, to grant subject to a number of conditions, Cllr James McInnes suggested the name ?Carlton? might be accommodated in the name of the new development in some way, to retain the name?s association with the town.
