BOURNEMOUTH could see a mass protest demanding the demolition of the resort’s Imax building.

The idea is being considered by the newly founded Imax Demolition Party, which is to host its first public meeting later this month.

The party – which currently has more than 1,000 members on the internet thanks to a Facebook group – was set up after Bournemouth council announced it was buying the Waterfront building containing the Imax.

Council leaders have spent £5 million acquiring the building and have set aside up to £2.5m for ousting the remaining tenants and “substantially demolishing” the complex.

Founder Graeme Sweetapple said: “We really feel like we’re outgrowing Facebook now. We want to really take this into the public domain and we would really like some kind of public meeting but also something along the lines of a protest as well.”

He said a march to the Town Hall or to the Waterfront building itself were options.

And he hoped the council would involve the group in deciding the site’s future.

“We would very much like the council to embrace our group’s shared opinions. We’re over 1,000 members now and we feel it’s essential for us to be able to liaise and work with the council,” he said.

“This issue has caused so much grief and anxiety to so many people for so many years now, we believe the constructive way forward is for a direct consultation to take place with the people of Bournemouth democratically.”

Members of the group have been suggesting their own ideas for the site, with an ice rink, a swimming pool and gardens the most popular so far.

Another Facebook group, Save the Imax Building, had gathered almost 400 members as of yesterday.

One supporter wrote: “To pay £7.5m just to demolish a structurally good building with no plan as to what to put in its place seems like a criminal waste of everybody's money... If they showed Avatar 3D there today I would buy a ticket like a shot.”

The Imax Demolition Party will meet on Sunday February 28 at 7.30pm at the Portman Hotel, 97 Ashley Road, Boscombe.