A RINGWOOD Arts Centre spokesman has spoken out against a dream to get the old cinema renovated in the High Street.

Hundreds of residents would like to see the venue, which has remained empty for several years, be transformed back to its glory days, when it played host to bands like Status Quo, Amen Corner and Edison Lighthouse.

But the Ringwood Arts Centre project group, spearheaded by members of Ringwood and District Community Association and Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society, want to raise £4.5 million to build the centre, which has been approved by civic chiefs, at Greyfriars.

The spokesman for the arts centre project said: “A small minority of people commented that they’d like to see the old Regal cinema in the Market Square restored as a community space for the town.

“The idea had been considered before the Greyfriars site was chosen, but there were good reasons why it was unlikely ever to come to fruition.

“The private ownership of the building by a developer, the high cost of renovating it in its dilapidated condition and the problem of who would actually run the centre even if it could be renovated, meant it was unviable.

“We came to the conclusion that a Ringwood Arts Centre, based next to the library, would create an arts campus within 300 metres of the town centre car park.

“It will be run by an experienced management structure and volunteers from every part of the Ringwood community.”

An online and street survey has been carried out by Ringwood Arts Centre group, with more than 800 people taking part.

Of those asked if Ringwood needs a large community space, almost 90 per cent answered yes, with less than two per cent of the respondents answering no.

Some 84 per cent said they wanted to see movies on a big screen and almost 83 per cent said they would like to see live shows, musicals and exhibitions in the theatre.

Some 42 per cent of people said they would use centre for sports while 43 per cent would use it for functions.

However Rick White, who launched the Save the Regal campaign, said: “Of course most people who answered the survey would say they wanted a theatre and cinema, most people do, but I think the obvious place for this is in the High Street and not further out of the town.

“The large car parks are already close to the High Street and money would be spent in the local restaurants and bars before people went to see movies or theatre.

“Restoring the iconic old cinema makes perfect sense.”