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31 July, 2010
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Published: 20 November, 2009
A CAMPAIGN to save the cinema complex and bowling alley in Thurso, which closed earlier this year, has been launched by a local pressure group.
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Cinema for Thurso, which was set up in 1984 following the closure of the town's old Picture House in Sir George's Street, has started an online campaign which has already attracted over 100 members. The group is also to organise polls to gauge public opinion on how the cinema should develop. Darren Manson, of CFT, said: "It's ironic that when we are celebrating 25 years supporting and promoting film and cinema we need to start a new campaign to save the Thurso cinema." He added: "We need our local cinema. If we lose this one it is very unlikely Caithness will have another cinema within the next 30 years. This is all the more sad because the signs are clear that local folk are as keen on cinema as elsewhere at a time when going to the movies is more popular than ever before. "The cinema industry nationwide is doing very well and this year's summer season was even more financially successful than last year, continuing the upward trend in the cinema market. "It is our hope that the receivers will be able to find a buyer and that cinema in Thurso will continue and become a success. Public feedback is the most important thing to the CFT Group. Without it there is no way to plan and provide for customer requirements." He explained that back in 1984 most cinemas were struggling. "Times have changed dramatically. Cinema is no longer threatened by video, television or the internet. It's a hugely successful industry which is doing very well, especially during the recession, but then the movie industry has traditionally always done well when there is an economic downturn," he said. Four years after Caledonian Associated Cinemas closed the Picture House, the Moving Picture Show company came to the Far North. It was later replaced by the mobile Silver Screen unit. In 1998, Thor Leisure announced it was to build a new cinema and in October 2000 the All Star Factory opened, but in the summer of 2008 it went on the market although no buyer came forward. The cinema and bowling alley complex closed at the end of September. The owners said the economic recession "played a major part" in the decision but stressed that changes in licensing legislation and increasing costs also contributed to the closure of the business. 
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