Carlton, Islington

Longford, Stretford, Manchester

Rex, Coalville

CASEWORK REPORT: May 2014 Compiled by Tim Hatcher

ENGLAND All photographs by Harry Rigby (Editor - CTA Bulletin)

Grade II*

In response to a report that the State at Grays in Essex had suffered internal flooding during therecent period of violent weather, the local conservation officer inspected and determined theassertion to have been without foundation; even the organ chambers, situated in one of thelowermost parts of the building, were absolutely dry.

The windows in one of the flank walls of theCarlton in Islington have been replaced; thematerials and design of the substitutions willbe investigated.

Grade II

Medinbrand’s ‘enabling development’ for theWhiteladies in Bristol envisages convertingthe original manager’s flat into two apartmentsand the ballroom into four. Everyman plans tooperate three screens following minimal workto the current layout, although incorporation ofadditional original auditorium features iscomtemplated. The alternate proposal byanother body, which aspired to a morecomprehensive restoration of the auditorium,appears to have foundered.

Trafford Metropolitan BoroughCouncil’s Local Plan includesclassification of the Longford atStretford in Greater Manchester forleisure and/or community use; thes c h e m e a d v a n c e d f o rredevelopment of its environs isintended to include retail anddwelling units.

Internal inspection of the Ritz atNuneaton has revealed superficialwater damage and consequentmildew. The local conservationofficer is to serve a repair noticeupon the owner requiring thestructure to be rendered watertight.

Unlisted

In its initial acknowledgement, Bournemouth Council has respondedpositively to the C.T.A’s request to re-draw the boundary of aconservation area, thereby including the ex-Regent and ex-Westover within it: the submission is under active consideration.

Regrettably, the Rex at Coalville has been rejected for listing byEnglish Heritage, despite many surviving internal features and afine façade reminiscent of continental cinema design practice.

The developer responsible for the forthcoming, highly regrettable,destruction of London’s Leicester Square Theatre may include elements of its demolished façade within the atrium of the new hotel

Regent, Hinckley

to be built on the site. In parallel proceedings, the premises constituting Leicester SquareConservation Area may lose this designation; the Association will object to Westminster CityCouncil.

Pyke’s Cinematograph Theatre inLondon’s Shepherd’s Bush is to beconverted into a restaurant serving the hotelcreated from the adjacent former Pavilion.This is to be cautiously welcomed,particularly as little of the original interiorsurvives, although the revisions will beclosely monitored in an attempt to protectand promote the enhancement of externalfeatures.

In a disconcerting and unsatisfactory modusoperandi, the Regent at Hinckley wasrejected for listing without a representativefrom English Heritage inspecting theproperty. The local conservation officer wasdisappointed not only by the decision butalso by the detached manner of itsformulation. Regrettably the cinema’slocation precludes its incorporation into aconservation area.