MORE than 1,000 people have backed a Facebook campaign to keep Bournemouth’s cinemas where they are.

Campaigners say the town’s traditional cinemas offer huge screens and grand Art Deco architecture that would not be reproduced at a multiplex nearby.

The Odeon chain, which owns both the Odeon cinema and its near-neighbour the ABC, would close both and move to the planned Nautilus leisure complex near the Pavilion if that scheme went ahead.

The Save Bournemouth Odeon Campaign had by yesterday clocked up 1,028 “likes” on Facebook – and has received the backing of Bournemouth Civic Society.

Marcus Hughes, 26, who launched the campaign, said in a letter to the Odeon chain: “Local people, visitors and film fans love the present big screen cinemas in Westover Road and do not want the black box subterranean multiplex that is planned at the Nautilus project.”

He also called for the current cinemas to be “refurbished to their former glory”. He said Screen One at the Odeon, opened after a refurbishment in 1969, was the last purpose-built Cinerama auditorium in the UK and originally had a 75ft wide screen.

ABC1 still has a 48ft wide curved screen, thought to be the biggest in the south outside London.

Ken Mantock, chairman of Bournemouth Civic Society, told Mr Hughes the society supported the campaign to save the historic cinema buildings.

“Whilst we have supported the concept of the Nautilus development and its links to funding further improvement of the Pavilion and public realm around the Lower Gardens, we have always noted that any multiplex cinemas on this site should not foreshadow the closure of the original large screen ones across the road,” he said.

But a reply to Mr Hughes from Roger Harris of Odeon Cinemas said: “Bournemouth council are committed to introducing a new cinema, as I believe they consider a new addition will act as a catalyst to the town in terms of both retail and restaurant offers.”

He said the Odeon’s only options were to move into the new building or to let a competitor open – in which case “our existing cinemas cease to become financially viable”.

He added: “We hope we will maintain the same presentation and service standards if we are successful in opening a new cinema.”