Thursday, September 17, 2020

News: Free parking for Rotherham cinema goers

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Rotherham film fans are set to have another reason to chose to stay local to watch future features - free parking.

Having secured the approval of the planning board in June, Muse Developments Ltd are anticipating that construction will begin in autumn 2021 for the multimillion pound Forge Island regeneration scheme in Rotherham town centre.

At the heart of the proposals for the Council-owned site of the former Tesco store is an eight screen cinema, alongside a 69 bed hotel and four restaurants.

The plans, submitted by WYG consultants, describe the cinema as "a keystone to the masterplan." It the largest building in the scheme at 25,000 sq ft and is positioned at the south of Forge Island. Either side of the cinema's foyer are two restaurant units (2,500 sq and 3,000 sq ft), which have the potential for mezzanine levels. Plans show five screens with between 125 and 143 seats and three smaller screens of between 50 and 83 seats.

The design approach developed by FaulknerBrowns Architects looked to the strong industrial heritage of the site which was historically home to a foundry and an iron works. The cinema design incorporates a saw-tooth roof profile with a metal cap and a robust brick podium base.

A car park, to be operated by the council, is to be created on the main Forge Island site with the new buildings on a podium above taking them higher than the 1 in 100 flood risk level. Adjacent Council-owned sites are set to feature a new café on the site of the current Riverside precinct. Significant public realm works are also planned.

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Tim O'Connell, Head of Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RIDO), recently updated councillors on the proposals. He said: "On Forge Island there will be a public car park with 350 car parking spaces. There will be an arrangement with a cinema operator that enables the visitors to the cinema to park for free using a refund system at the cinema.

"More generally, the parking will be available, and the intention is that we as the Council will own and operate the car park. We can set the charges, we can set the minimum and maximum stay times. It will be a car park that's within the Council's control, that's a public car park that provides 350 car parking spaces.

"The times when it will be busy for the cinema - we expect that to be evenings and other times. The rest of the day, when the cinema is less likely to be busy, that car park will be available as a general town centre car park."

The move is similar to schemes run in Worksop and Boston by cinema operator, Savoy, where visitors using council car parks nearby are issued with a duplicate ticket which is taken to the kiosk on arrival and the cost is deducted from the cinema ticket price.

The Forge Island update to councillors added: "Interest from end users remains strong despite the impact of Covid 19 and agreements with key anchor occupiers are expected in the very near future."

Forge Island website

Images: RMBC / Muse / FaulknerBrowns

17 comments:

Anonymous,  September 17, 2020 at 9:46 AM  

Do we know who will be operating the cinema and hotel yet?

Anonymous,  September 17, 2020 at 11:23 AM  

I've never come across a cinema, that dosnt have free parking!

Mr me September 17, 2020 at 11:34 AM  

Slap bang in town centre, next too bus station, next to train, tram Station, taxi rank across road. If you go for an evening out, cinema, bite to eat, few beers, why would you waste evening driving?? Also wee supposed to be discouraging car use, so why car park?? Should use that land for further development.

Anonymous,  September 17, 2020 at 11:46 AM  

Will we still be allowed to fish the don

Anonymous,  September 17, 2020 at 11:47 AM  

Can we still fish the don

Graldhunter September 17, 2020 at 12:21 PM  

Yet another RMBC pet political vanity project 😂😂😂 Meadowhall here I come, ta very much

Anonymous,  September 17, 2020 at 8:51 PM  

Most cinema's in city/town centres don't have car parks. Take Sheffield, Odeon and Light offer discounted parking of nearby car parks, but they aren't free.

Anonymous,  September 18, 2020 at 12:54 PM  

@Mr Me

I'm not bothered about the parking being free or being right next to the building but if I couldn't park at least nearby I wouldn't bother going, I'd go to Meadowhall or Centertainment instead. I don't drink so rather than say why would I waste an evening driving? Why would I waste an evening waiting for a bus or a taxi when I can just jump in my car? I personally wouldn't use the Bus even if it was free.

Mr me September 18, 2020 at 3:18 PM  

Anonymous, you not heard of climate crisis, or dosnt your car driving effect planet. USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT!!!

Unknown September 18, 2020 at 10:48 PM  

At whats happening now car park will be empty as will a white elephant cinema.pie in sky . again RBC jokers

Unknown September 18, 2020 at 10:50 PM  

Big brother approved? or
Is Rotherham a police state as rest of country

Anonymous,  September 21, 2020 at 1:37 PM  

Mr me, I have heard of it, and so have most other people, but the fact is the vast majority of people who have cars won't switch to public transport when it's much much less convenient than driving. It's not like it's even cheap to use anymore.

Oh, and my car is electric, but even if it wasn't I still wouldn't be using public transport no matter how much people like you SHOUT.

Anonymous,  September 21, 2020 at 5:30 PM  

Agree with above comment, public transport particularly buses are a joke, prices are expensive especially for single journeys not to mention infrequent!

Anonymous,  September 25, 2020 at 12:33 PM  

Catastrophic climate change, dosnt have a price. Seems from comments some think Rotherham won't be effected by climate change. Use public transport. Deluded idiots

Anonymous,  September 28, 2020 at 2:46 PM  

Not deluded at all, I know all about the threat of climate change.

It's more deluded to think people will give up their cars for an expensive, inconvenient and poor quality public transport service. People might use it if it was fit for purpose.

Anonymous,  September 29, 2020 at 10:31 AM  

Oh yeah, getting a taxi and leaving my electric car at home will do a lot to help climate change won't it?

Get a brain!

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