THERE will be no conflict of interest between running the Charter Hall for prestigious bookings and the proposed cinema scheme for the market hall, says Okehampton Town Council. Under the plans submitted by applicants Merlin Cinema to West Devon Borough Council, there would be two entrances to the cinema, one from the Charter Hall and one from Red Lion Yard. Both buildings would share toilet facilities in the foyer area. Okehampton town councillor Cllr Tony Leech said: ?Merlin Cinema are perfectly aware of what we are doing with the Charter Hall and as far as they are concerned they are quite happy to work with us and use the Red Lion Yard entrance, depending on what we have going on in the Charter Hall.? Cllr Leech said Merlin Cinema had told the council they felt the more people using the Charter Hall the better, as those coming through would see their advertising material and be aware of what a cinema had to offer. Cllr Leech said if the plans were approved, they would result in an upgrading of the toilet facilities for the disabled. Okehampton resident Beatrice Simm last week contacted the Times to express her concerns about the toilet block for the Charter Hall being shared with the proposed cinema in the market hall. ?Can you imagine having a function in the Charter Hall possibly for a wedding reception or a funeral wake ? and sharing the toilets with the cinema, possibly with high spirited youngster queuing there?? she asked. Mrs Simm said she felt a cinema would be good for the town, but the market hall was the wrong location. ?I am not against a cinema in the town. Perhaps one of the big cinemas would take the opportunity to build a cinema complex/multiplex with skating and bowling facilities,? she said. Mrs Simm added: ?We are a growing proud community and are a gateway to both Devon and Cornwall.? She urged anyone who was interested to inspect the plans available in the West Devon Borough Council office in St James Street, and if they felt as strongly about the issue as she did, to write to the planning department.
