EVESHAM'S Grade II listed Regal Cinema could be in for an exterior facelift if town councillors get their way.

Members of the Town Council are planning to write to the owner of the Port Street cinema as well as Wychavon District Council and the Highways Authority in a bid to try and get the exterior of the building smartened up.

At the planning and general purposes committee meeting held on Monday, councillors complained at its 'dilapidated' appearance and raised concerns for the safety of passers by and road users.

Councillor Roma Kirke said she feared there could be fire problems due to people unlawfully using the building and suggested that there may have been 'drug addicts using the premises at some stage'.

Evesham mayor, Frances Smith, added: "Not only that, but it could be a hazard to the road too if something were to fall off. The owner has to do something about this and we will write a letter asking him to do just that. We also want to write to the Highways Authority with our concerns."

Concerns were raised in October last year when a large section of guttering crashed to the pavement below. Fortunately no one was around at the time. Town councillor Alan Booth confirmed that the new owner of the Regal Cinema was a Mr Alan Redpath and that a letter would be penned to him outlining the council's concerns as soon as possible.