THE possible loss of Okehampton?s market in favour of a three-screen cinema seems to be progressing without much thought to the needs of the town and surrounding area or, perhaps more importantly, what might be supported by the people of the town and surrounding area. The potential for error appears to be high yet again while the potential for providing something of lasting value slips away. Mr Pope, the former owner of the Carlton Cinema. deserved a medal for providing the experience of cinema in the face of local apathy. It was far from unusual to enjoy excellent films at the Carlton in comfort but in the company of only a dozen people; or less. To be fair, I?ve also enjoyed good films in Tavistock as one patron among four and in Exeter in January I enjoyed King Kong with another eleven people. A single screen, 100-seat cinema seeks up to 600 or 700 patrons per week and even if it might be commercially viable at half that number is there any evidence that the Okehampton area could provide 300-plus patrons each week? That is before the other two proposed screens try to attract custom. Perhaps those who have been providing an excellent occasional cinema services in the town and nearby villages would be kind enough to share their attendance information with the public to enable some guide to the change of apathy to determined. The cinema industry is currently facing new challenges with major films already being released to cinemas while also being simultaneously released on DVD, and that trend will continue. Downloading new releases from the internet on a pay and view, or purchase, basis is affecting cinema-going and DVD rentals and is another trend that will grow. Cinema will survive but can it really do so as a three screener in Okehampton? Perhaps I?ve ignored something obvious, but I think Okehampton may be doing so also. There appears to be potential for providing a centre for theatre and cinema in the town in the old mill buildings in Mill Road. I?ve worked in the theatre, television and film industries all my life and suspect there might also be the potential there for providing facilities for young people, something else the town might benefit from. A base that can provide for amateur theatre, professional performers and cinema while also housing facilities for local people of all ages has, I suggest, at the least the possibility of being open and in use for much of the day most days of the week. Before decisions are made and a market hall is lost, couldn?t someone explore all the possibilities first? Such opportunity knocks but once. Roy Radford Buttercup Cottage South Zeal
