A CAMPAIGN to demand action on Evesham’s derelict Regal Cinema will take to the streets this weekend.

Local residents will be asked to vote on the future of the Port Street building, empty for more than three years.

Although plans for a major overhaul aimed at turning it into a multi-purpose entertainment centre with rooftop apartments have been passed by Wychavon District Council, Alan Redpath, who owns the building, has yet to announce his intentions.

Former London cinema projectionist Stuart Peters has now launched a new website – eveshamcinema.co.uk – to stimulate local debate.

And to back him up, members of the recently-formed Imaginary Friend Theatre Company will be near WH Smiths in Bridge Street between 10am and 2pm on Saturday handing out voting slips to people and urging them to visit the website to make their views known.

MP Peter Luff has described the website as “outstanding” and has urged local people to put their points of view.

He added: “I have been in regular contact with Wych-avon District Council and the regional development agency about the Regal and it is clear to me they are doing all they can to secure the reopening.”

However, he said he feared the worsening economic situation would hinder any plans because of the apartments being difficult to sell.

“The cinema is a public asset in private ownership. Unless and until the private owners think they can run it economically, it is extremely difficult to see what more can be done,” he said.

Mr Peters said that before setting up the website he had attempted a study on the cost of restoring the Regal.

“However, I have been informed Mr Redpath isn’t interested in the money. He doesn’t want to sell, full stop,” he said.

Russell Hancock, from Imaginary Friend, said: “We want to encourage people to use the website to let the world know how much interest there is locally in reopening the cinema.

Attempts to contact Mr Redpath this week were unsuccessful.