Save Edinburgh’s Cameo Cinema

The story goes on, so hopefully you’ve signed the petition to ensure the future of the superb traditional screen one of the Cameo. For those of you not following the story, this is one of Edinburgh’s oldest Independent cinemas (indeed oldest cinemas full stop), which was renovated in 1949 and begin bringing foreign movies to a Scottish audience from that day. Now the plan is to cut away at that wonderful renovation of their main screen to create another bar. Something Edinburgh does not need.

Previous stories: Edinburgh to lose Independent Cinema?, and Save Edinburgh’s Cinema – Independent vs Multiplex.

Those of you who signed the petition can be happy that your signatures are being presented tonight.

The Petition, with over 1600 signatures collected in under three weeks, will be handed to Donald Anderson, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, by Ewen Bremner, Scottish film actor from Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting”, alongside Sarah Boyack MSP for Edinburgh Central and Genni Poole, Coordinator of the Save the Cameo Campaign.

…[Boyack said] “…Many hundreds of emails and over 1600 petition signatures have been received in a very short space of time expressing concern and dismay over the proposed change of use of this historic arthouse venue and material alterations which would compromise the architectural and visual impact of Edinburgh’s oldest cinema. We urge the Council to reject the plans submitted under Listed Building Consent.”

[Poole stated] “Local people and city filmgoers…don’t want it changed into something aimed at the corporate market…People are glad to have choices allowing them to see films other than mainstream Hollywood. The Cameo needs to be run dynamically to keep pace with the times and competition, but not at the expense of its core arthouse identity.”

…and I think that says it so well. However, the plea is out again. Although the signatures show intent of the Edinburgh people, there’s more that needs to be done. Please, even if you’re not one of those signees, read on…

…the application for Listed Building Consent Application and the Full Planning Application are both still active and pending and therefore will go before Committee unless the situation changes. The deadline for objections to the plans still stands and is looming – Friday 9 December.

What this is saying is that despite the petition the application will be approved on Friday unless people do something more.

Even if you have objected already to the change of use, PLEASE NOW OBJECT AGAIN ON MATERIAL GROUNDS – Advice on what wording to use so that your objection counts is on the website and the deadline for objections is FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER – a few days away. PLEASE ACT NOW!

So here’s what to do, now they are a bit involved and will need your attention for a short while, but it’s worth it to save the screens. Otherwise we’re going to have another corporate multiscreen cinema in the heart of Edinburgh, and how long will that last being within walking distance of two multiplexes?

1. Go to www.savethecameo.org and on the Home Page, look to the left column ” and click on “OBJECT TO THE APPLICATION”
2. Read carefully through the Action advice, new objection instructions
3. Once read, click on the Planning Application link (blue letters) which is near the top of the text about the new objection
4. Click on “Submit Comments”, in the black box on the planning comments form.
5. Complete the form but PLEASE REMEMBER to change the default button from “I support the Proposal” to “I object to the Proposal”

Its vitally important to use the specific wording underlined in our website objection advice on the Action page, so that you are addressing key issues relating to the materials, which is what is taken into account in a Listed Building Consent application. If you aren’t specific, your objection won’t count.

One way to help you is: copy and paste from paragraph 2) on the save the cameo website action page (from “I object…”. Paste the text into your comments box on the Council objection form. Then hit the “insert” button on your computer keyboard, and overwrite with your own wording, retaining the important wording that is bold and underlined and including the specific examples. below the objection wording.

I know I can say this on behalf of Genni when I say thankyou to all those Movie Blog readers who head over there and object. Currently the Cameo is the number one place for press screenings for me, I saw Wolf Creek, Where the Truth Lies, Night Watch and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang there, without them you wouldn’t have had those reviews.

Save the Cameo.