Sir,

Re. Royal Playhouse/ Assembly Rooms, Tenby.

As a member of the Cinema Theatre Association and a former cinema boss, I have been watching this case very carefully.

It has come to my attention that the cinema is very old and contains some plasterwork, some of which is hidden behind the screen frame which is the proscenium arch. I understand that when alterations were done in 1983, this proscenium arch had to be retained and because the stage was shortened, the screen frame had to be put in the front of the proscenium arch which has never been seen since.

I am told by the CTA that the last time they visited the cinema that water had been pouring in causing spores and toadstools to be growing on the walls. Since then, the balcony was closed due to water penetration and part of the ceiling coming down. This is all due apparently to a blocked gully and drain on the roof which could easily be rectified.

Having been in Tenby recently, the roof looks like a plantation with bushes growing out of it.

As a cinema man of some repute in the business, this could easily be rectified, but importantly, the owner wants to get rid of this cinema.

At a recent meeting of Tenby Town Council, this equipment was offered to the De Valence Pavilion.

Whilst Mr. Fry wishes to develop the site, this cinema could have been kept open serving the Tenby people and many thousands of visitors until such time that it was required.

Over 10 years ago, Mr. Fry offered to lease me the cinema, but unfortunately it now stands their unloved and in a disgusting state of repair. I wonder how many more years this has to stand there like this.

However, the question remains that this is supposed to be 'listed' so how has this been allowed to go to rack and ruin when it could be reopened and used in this economic climate, and what is the National Park and Cadw doing to protect the plasterwork inside.

I am aware of the new plans for this site, but it remains to be seen as to when this will be done, if at all.

If the cinema had been maintained to a good standard, it would probably have still been open today. The management and owner should hang their heads in shame at this disgusting Tenby monument.

I have heard from various sources about how the place was run with no matinees etc at weekends or holidays. If you are not a cinema person who knows how to run them then keep away.

I am confident that I could get this running again properly if needed and put this back on the map.

In the meantime, I think that the National Park and Cadw should insure that this is kept watertight.

T. A. Harris,

Oswestry,

Shropshire.

FOOTNOTE: The above letter is a copy of one sent to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.