News / KNowle West
Old cinema demolition delayed after new find
The demolition of a former cinema and bingo hall has been delayed after a new discovery.
In a recent blog post, Tom Renhard, cabinet member for housing, said demolition works were due to start the week commencing December 19.
But Bristol City Council says demolition of the 84-year-old building on Filwood Broadway in Knowle West is not due to start until the new year.
is needed now More than ever
It says the reason for the delay is due to asbestos – which was thought to have been removed – being found.
A council spokesperson said: “Wring Group Ltd, who will carry out the demolition, have completed an asbestos survey along with some additional work within the cinema. The survey highlighted further finds of asbestos which must be removed before demolition begins.”
They added: “From January 3, Wring Group Ltd will begin their site setup and preparation in advance of the asbestos removal work. The physical demolition is due to begin in late February and be completed by early May.”
The former cinema on Filwood Broadway in Knowle West is not set to be demolished until May 2023 – but some locals want the demolition stopped – photo: Nick Haskins
The Broadway Cinema opened in 1938 and was converted into a bingo hall in 1971, but has become derelict since closing in the 1990s.
Demolition of the building – which is connected to a row of shops and flats – was approved in 2019, with work starting in 2021.
But the project has been blighted by delays, with the previous contractor pulling out due to party wall issues.
The council submitted a planning application in July to replace the site with a housing-led development, and a decision is expected in the coming months.
But there is a campaign to save the old cinema, with one campaigner committed to doing “whatever it takes” to save it.
If successful, the demolition will follow that of the swimming baths on Filwood Broadway in 2005, and the library on the street could also be demolished if it is relocated.
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Charlie Watts
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