By Hayley Robinson

An appeal against Swale council’s decision to refuse planning permission to transform the town’s former New Century Cinema into a nightclub is moving another step forward.

A government planning inspector is due to hold a one-day hearing about the plans at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, from 10.30am on April 27.
People can attend the hearing and may speak at the inspector’s discretion.

Businessman Stephen Cross lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate after Swale council’s planning committee opposed his £1m plan to transform the old Reeltime Cinema in Sittingbourne High Street into a nightclub. This was despite council planning officers giving it the thumbs up saying it would benefit the night-time economy.

The project could create up to 50 jobs.

The cinema closed at the end of February 2009 when owner Reeltime Cinemas decided to call it a day after audiences dwindled.

Mr Cross said: “We are looking forward to presenting our views at the hearing. I continue to believe that Sittingbourne is worthy of investment and strongly believe that my plans will be of significant benefit to the town centre.

“I have been overwhelmed with the level of support we have received and I understand that petitions and letters in favour of the development have been forwarded to the Inspector in extraordinary numbers.

“I know that there are some residents with concerns, but I also know that we can and will address these issues.

“Our appeal is based on the fact that the council members were wrong to refuse the application. Their reason was that the use would generate an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance.

“There was no justification for this decision. There is no evidence to show that an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance and the Premises Licence application, which specifically assesses the potential for disturbance, saw no indication of any such problems and was granted a month after the planning committee’s decision was reached.”