NEWTON Abbot Town Council has objected to proposals to demolish shops in Market Walk and replace them with a four-screen cinema and restaurants.

It argued that the box-like structure, wanted by Teignbridge District Council as part of a wider regeneration scheme, would be ‘overbearing’ and have a negative impact on neighbouring historic buildings

There are also concerns about parking given plans to reduce capacity at nearby Halcyon Road and the scrapping of extra spaces at Cricketfield Car Park.

The objection was lodged by the Town Council’s Planning Committee on October 11.

Cllr Mike Joyce said. ‘It just looks out of all proportion to what’s already there.’

He was also concerned that independent plans to remodel the Alexandra Theatre would be rendered impossible owing to the proposed cinema’s footprint.

‘It’s the wrong shape, the wrong size, the wrong place,’ he said.

Cllr Alex Hall agreed. ‘It’s an overbearing building, a bit ghastly,’ he said.

Cllr Colin Parker also sits on Teignbridge Council’s Planning Committee where the power to grant permission will lie.

He expressed concern that if the cinema scheme failed then a wider £9.2 million package of alterations for the town, being offered through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, would be lost.

‘It’s the whole project that has to be looked at, it’s very difficult to separate one factor from another,’ he said.

The warning failed to deter Cllr Mike Ryan who said: ‘It’s just a blot on the landscape really. It’s overbearing and completely out of character.’

Town Development Manager Sally Henley was also unfazed, reporting that out of approximately 276 business premises in the main town centre, only a dozen or so were available to let or purchase, equivalent to a vacancy rate of below six per cent.

‘This town is not in urgent need of millions of pounds to put it on the map,’ she said.

Cllr Karen Crout had concerns about the cinema’s viability.

‘You’re going to end up with this being a white elephant,’ she said. ‘And you know what people will say then, what a waste of money.’

Members objected on the grounds that the scheme would not be in keeping with the area’s heritage and listed buildings, a lack of parking and an overbearing presence.

The matter will now be discussed by Teignbridge District Council.