Bury St Edmunds nostalgia - residents object to St Edmundsbury Borough Council's plans to build a multiplex cinema in Parkway

In 1997 residents near the proposed multiplex cinema site on the Parkway car park in Bury St Edmunds raised their objections to the council’s plans.

At the time, tempers were flared and voices were raised as more than 100 people attended a St Edmundsbury Borough Council meeting, where residents criticised council officials, accusing them of having already made up their minds.

The meeting involved a series of workshops about the site, but was thrown out as locals refused to co-operate.

Their spokeswoman, Penny White, said: “We don’t want to discuss this in little groups because at this stage there is nothing to talk about. We don’t want the cinema in our area.”

Gerry Massey, head of planning and transportation at the council, tried to reassure residents' fear about noise pollution generated by the cinema.

He said: "This development would be well away from housing."

Developers were asked to submit proposals to the council and residents would get the opportunity to meet developers and discuss the cinema.

Cineworld cinema, in Parkway, was completed in 2005.