PLANS to turn the site of Nelson’s demolished historic Regent Cinema into a car park are under consideration – and it may be for a medical practice across the road.
But there are also concerns that local residents need somewhere to park their cars, so that is under consideration, too.
The land is next to the newly-built youth centre and homes facility at The Hub on Leeds Road. The cinema land was used as the builders’ site.
Pendle Council’s Nelson Committee had recommended that the Executive should look to declare the land surplus to requirements, negotiate with the medical practice but also talk to residents in Vulcan Street and part of Leeds Road about their thoughts.
At the Executive meeting, Coun. Nadeem Ahmed suggested: “We want to have some future control over this site.” And he added that it might be worth letting the health facility use it on a lease basis rather than a sale.
And Coun. David Whipp suggested that it could provide overnight use for residents when it was not used by patients.
Nelson Committee had considered looking at it as an off-street car park, and it would be surfaced.
But the council’s chief executive, Mr Stephen Barnes, told the Executive that it would be worth officers first negotiating with the medical centre and reporting back before consulting residents.
Coun. Whipp felt it should stay as a public car park. Members agreed to negotiate and it will be considered again by the Executive.