Third time lucky: £8million cinema that was demolished for being 75cm too far north may have to be pulled down AGAIN because it is 30cm too far west

  • In May the part-built cinema was pulled down for being 75cm out of place
  • Locals now say the complex is 30cm too far west and 20cm too far north
  • Decision to pull it down again in the hands of the council in Cambridgeshire

By Helen Collis

PUBLISHED: 06:41 EST, 30 July 2013 | UPDATED: 11:26 EST, 30 July 2013

A cinema that had to be pulled down when people living nearby realised it was in the wrong place could be demolished for a second time.

The £8million development in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, was originally built 75cm out of place and builders were ordered to pull it down and start again.

However, as work got underway for a second time, people living nearby carried out their own measurements and discovered it was too close to their homes.

Third time lucky

Third time lucky: The 32,000sq ft complex may have to be pulled down for a second time after locals realised it was slightly out of place

Artist's impression: The new development, which local residents have campaigned for for years, will house a six-screen Cineworld and four restaurants, three flats, a public plaza and parking for cars and bikes

Artist's impression: The new development, which local residents have campaigned for for years, will house a six-screen Cineworld and four restaurants, three flats, a public plaza and parking for cars and bikes

Developers Turnstone Estates and architects January Consultants have now submitted a fresh planning application in the hope the building will be allowed to remain where it is.

 

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Chris Goldsmith, managing director at Turnstone Estates, insisted the latest error was 'imperceptible' and hoped the new application will appease locals.

He said: 'It’s all to do with regularising the building. It’s imperceptible really.

'But given the building being under such high scrutiny we thought we should regularise it.

Developers have erected the steel frame and begun building the brickwork for the cinema complex, before local people established it was in the wrong position

Developers had erected the steel frame and begun building the brickwork for the cinema complex, before local people established it was in the wrong position

Work has got well under way; the decision to pull it down for a second time is in the hands of the local council

Work has got well under way; the decision to pull it down for a second time is in the hands of the local council

'We know that there are a few people locally who are very concerned so we are doing whatever we can to put their minds at rest.'

Huntingdonshire District Council is expected to rule on the issue next month.

The first time it was built, it was 75cm out of place. Paul Halfpenny, of Britannia Construction, said it was down to an 'error in design information provided to us by our lead design consultant'.

The cinema complex was due to open in September, but the completion date was pushed back by four months after the decision was made to first pull down the development.

This time the 32,000 sq ft frame is 30cm too far west and 20cm too far north, according to people living next door.

With the decision on whether to pull it down a second time in the hands of the council, it is now not known when the centre will open.

Residents measured the building themselves and found it was 30cm too far west and 20 cm too far north

Residents measured the building themselves and found it was 30cm too far west and 20 cm too far north

The location of the building is so sensitive because of its proximity to existing houses

The location of the building is so sensitive because of its proximity to existing houses

Residents and town councillors in St Neots have been campaigning for around 10 years to get a cinema built nearby.

In 2006 Peter Rowley, a U.S.-based millionaire with links to the town, donated about £1 million for a leisure facility in St Neots.

Residents were consulted and in 2007 said they favoured a cinema.

The development, which is being built on the site of a former recycling centre, will consist of a six-screen cinema, four restaurants, three flats, a public plaza and parking for cars and bikes.

Residents in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, have been campaigning for a cinema since 2006

Residents in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, have been campaigning for a cinema since 2006

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It's a good job this lot weren't in charge of building the pyramids.

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This is ' Fine Limit ' Construction Engineering gone Mad - 30cm one direction and 20cm in another( 30cm 1 Foot - 12 inches and 20cm 8 inches in old money ) and there are still complaints - do the people want a cinema in that location ?. Seems Not.

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measure twice cut once - lesterfontayne , belfast, United Kingdom, 30/7/2013 14:53........ or as we say in France... cut three times, three times too short.

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Ridiculous

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Get a ruler and see how small 30cm is. It's hard to believe anybody would argue over that and given the building company has rebuilt the complex once you'd think they'd get the measurements right this time.

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This money could be used towards something more useful!

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much ado about nothing

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I can imagine the glee of a few residents out at night with their torches and tape measures to find that the cinema was about 3 inches out of place. Even further happiness ensued, when the building was then rebuilt a couple of inches out in other directions after their careful measurements confirm this for the 2nd time.....they must have had a right old knees up when they found that out. I cannot see why the building being out by a couple of inches either way will cause them any problems ?.

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measure twice cut once

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people so sad over little things that dont matter millions are staveing in the world thats where my money goes and time not over 20 cm

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