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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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21st Sept '08
Over the last month I have been to the Bideford Cinema twice – and each time have enjoyed the experience enormously – yet when I mention this to people I am constantly surprised when they ask where is the cinema! Back at the turn of the century the Bridge Trust gave a sizable grant to Bideford College to buy the necessary equipment and the cinema was set up and opened. Now run by the Bideford Film Society films are shown on Friday and Saturday nights every two weeks – the shows are advertised in the ‘What’s On’ section of this paper. I know people who say they watch films on DVD at home – but when you compare the relative sizes of the screens then the cinema wins hands down. Incidentally don’t be put off by the fact that the back half of the building housing the cinema has just been demolished as part of the new school building programme – the cinema is still operating! The Film Society itself is always looking for volunteers to help with the running of the cinema so if you are interested then, in the first instance, contact the Volunteer Centre in Bridgeland Street (tel. 421580). Moving pictures were actually first shown in Bideford in a tent on the Strand in 1896 but this cinema is the fifth such facility in the town. The first real one, called the ‘Bijou’ opened in Lower Gunstone just before the First World War and is now run as a night club called ‘2DE’ though a recent planning application, now withdrawn, might have seen it converted into flats. It was followed by the ‘Palladium’ almost exactly opposite it whose entrance foyer is now Patt’s fruit shop in Mill Street. Next up was the ‘Palace’ in Bridgeland Street which itself was converted from the old Music Hall. It in turn gave way to the ‘Strand’ cinema on the site now occupied by the McCarthy and Stone flats – so, if nothing else, the cinema has a long history in the town.
All those who can remember the delightful riverside walk between Bideford and Appledore will also recall the major breach in the walkway near Knapp House that was created about 20 years ago and was extremely contentious at the time. Some months ago now the landowner began repairing the breach and in late June the Environment Agency carried out an inspection of the work. Their report was discussed at a recent meeting of the Taw and Torridge Estuary Forum which noted ‘The profile of the original bank slope is inherently unstable along its full length and, historically, stone revetment has been provided to prevent slippage and erosion’ and that where the breach has been repaired ‘the stone revetment has not been replaced’ whilst another concern was about the steepness of the new bank slope. The Environment Agency is being informed of the Forum’s concerns and we will see what results. There are, needless to say, numerous rumours circulating as to why this work has been carried out now – but whatever the truth I am glad that the path has been renewed as it is often mentioned in fond terms by older people and anything which extends the network of paths in this are is to be welcomed.
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