TOWN councillors in Okehampton were given a tour of the market hall on Monday to see how work is coming on to convert the building into a cinema. Councillors were able to see the creation of the division between the two cinema auditoria and work being carried out on sound-proofing. Cllr Kay Bickley, who was among those given a brief tour of the building with clerk Don Bent, said it had been useful for members to see the progress being made. Cllr Bickley said: ?It is shaping up rather well. ?I think it will be good for the town if it is open for Christmas, that would be a really good start in doing more for the young people in the town.? The larger of the two auditoria will contain around 140 seats, while the smaller one will be able to hold around 60 and will be equipped with upmarket luxurious seats. Cllr Bickley said she felt anyone who had visited the Exeter Picture House would recognise that smaller, comfier auditoria, offering a wide range of films, could provide a different cinema-going experience to the large multiplexes. She also praised the professional attitude of the contractors carrying out the conversion. ?They are certainly working some long hours,? she said. Cllr Charles Letchford said he had also been impressed with the work being carried out. ?It looks very promising. Work is progressing at a tremendous rate. My impression is it will be a very smart and modern cinema,? he said. Work has moved quickly since planning permission was granted to Cornish firm Merlin Cinemas in September for the scheme. The project is costing in the region of £200,000, but has proved controversial with traders and supporters of the market who led a campaign to keep it open.
