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james73

Anger over plan to level listed movie hall facade

THE listed facade of one of the oldest cinemas in Scotland is to be pulled down
under a council's controversial plans.

South Lanarkshire Council is to bulldoze the B-listed front of the former La
Scala cinema in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, to make way for an office
development.

The movie theatre was built in the 1920s but was more recently used as a
bingo hall before being bought over by the local authority.

Developers want to build a four- storey office block and 37 car parking
spaces at the site on Keith Street.

The building's auditorium was recently demolished but it is understood that
approval for this was given on condition the facade be retained.

The Cinema Theatres Association, Historic Scotland, The Theatres Trust
and and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland all objected to the
plan.

Opponents say it flouts national planning laws which state that no listed
building should be demolished unless all efforts to retain it have failed.
They claim other applications were passed over that proposed to
incorporate the facade.

However, the council insists the plan does not contravene planning laws
and will boost the town's regeneration.

The picture house, which closed in 1960, was designed by architect James
McKissack who also created the La Scala in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street in
1912.

James H
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