A campaign to save a “much-loved” building in the heart of Ulverston is gathering pace.
A fundraiser to save The Roxy cinema on Brogden Street has already raised more than £12,000 of its £20,000 target since it launched on April 4.
The campaign was started by The Roxy Collective, a group established in 2020 to protect, preserve, restore and revitalise the cinema.
Once the £20,000 has been raised, fundraisers will make a bid to the government’s Community Ownership Fund, which offers grants of up to £250,000 to help communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure.
Ulverston Town Council has also pledged £50,000 to the project.
The building had been up for sale for the last six years with local estate agents Corrie & Co, but the current owner has removed it from public listing pending an agreed sale to The Roxy Collective if it can meet its fundraising target.
“The Roxy is an iconic and much-loved building at the heart of the Ulverston community, which we plan to preserve and protect for current and future generations,” said Chairwoman of The Roxy Collective, Suzanne Garnett.
“We are hosting an Open Night on Thursday 21st April in the Laurel & Hardy Museum where anyone can come along to meet us and find out more.”
Timeline
The Roxy Collective has outlined the desired timeline for its campaign:
2020-2023: Secure the building and continue the work that has already been underway.
2023-2025: Phased renovations.
Plans for the cinema
The Roxy Collective say they have “big plans” for the facility and admit that it “does need a little TLC”.
They plan to install a lift to make the cinema more accessible and “open up some of the many unoccupied and forgotten spaces for public use”.
Ulverston Tourist Information Centre would also return to the cinema foyer under the plans.
The Roxy Collective say they aim to have “many exciting programmes and initiatives launching in the next 18 months”.
Donate here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/future-of-the-roxy
