A CAMPAIGN to save a historic cinema in Ringwood has “taken a big step in the right direction”.

Three members of the Ringwood Regal Committee met with representatives from U + I Group PLC in London on Monday (SEP 12) who said they would be prepared to sell the building to the group.

A starting figure proposed was £2 million.

Mike Tuck, the chairman of the cinema group, said: “Obviously it is a big step in the right direction. Up until now they have maintained they wanted to retain ownership and they didn’t want to sell it and proposed to knock it down for a while.”

Mr Tuck says an amount of fundraising has already been done but more money is needed.

“Now buying it is a real possibility we can start fundraising in earnest,” he added.

During the meeting the cinema group put forward a second option of leasing the upper floor and foyer for conversion into a theatre and cinema. A third option would involve demolishing the existing cinema building whilst retaining the town hall facade and building a new theatre and cinema behind that facade.

A statement from the Ringwood Regal group said they would be urgently seeking funding for a feasibility study and getting professional advice on reports needed “to ensure the building is a sound investment” and to get a valuation.

Mr Tuck said the group was “encouraged” by the visit.

“We firmly believe this is very much an achievable project within a reasonable timescale,” he said.

"We need a millionaire benefactor, as ready cash would be much more appealing than long-term fundraising, so if anyone has any suggestions we’d love to hear them."

The Ringwood Regal committee will be meeting soon to discuss the way forward.

Anyone interested in supporting the campaign by becoming a Friend of the Regal or making a donation go to ringwood-regal.co.uk.