PLANS of combining two landmark projects in Ringwood have been shelved for the foreseeable future.

Campaigners working to reopen the Ringwood Regal met with the Ringwood Arts Centre steering group recently to discuss whether a combined theatre and cinema project could be completed.

The option of bringing the two projects together has been suggested by many people in the town.

However, following the meeting between Mike Tuck and Ian Reid, chairman and business consultant respectively of the Ringwood Regal Action Group, and Mike Osborne and Julian Peckham, chairman and member respectively of the Ringwood Arts Centre steering group, it was agreed the two projects will continue separately.

During the meeting, the representatives found the two projects had their differences.

The Arts Centre team have already invested a considerable sum of money and are driving ahead with the project, while the Regal team have nothing tangible to offer at present.

"We had a very amicable meeting, but we did not expect a meeting of minds as they are well committed to their project," Mike Tuck said.

"The Arts Centre have spent a lot of money getting to the point they are at and they're not going to give that up.

"In terms of the Regal we want to talk to the developers again and I'm hopeful of meeting with them soon.

"Until we know whether we can buy it we are in a state of flux."

The Arts Centre team expressed concerns about the vision for the planned 600-seat professional theatre.

The Arts Centre will have around 250 seats and is aimed at both professional and amateur entertainment groups as well as cinema.

The meeting concluded the projects would remain independent at least until the Regal building can be procured, at which point the Arts Centre team might reconsider their position.

Julian Peckham said the steering group were impressed with the designs of the Regal team, but they had misgivings.

"We were invited to see what the Regal team have achieved so far and watched their detailed video," Mr Peckham said.

"We're at the point of still looking at fundraising, but we're taking a back seat because money is so hard to come by and then there is Brexit in the background.

"Ringwood is growing all the time and we are hoping that money given to the district council from large developments will be able to go towards the Arts Centre project."

Plans for the multi-purpose Arts Centre, which includes meetings rooms, studios, sports hall, a café and bar, are estimated to cost £7m.

Meanwhile, the Regal, which closed its doors as a cinema in 1972, has been professionally valued at a considerably lower figure than the £2m asking price originally suggested by the developers.

If acquired, the Regal building would require a new roof as well as other elements of development.

The action group says the worst case total cost of purchasing and converting the building is expected to be around £5.42m including VAT – providing the building can be purchased at the price suggested by the valuation.