Demolish the Empire?

Residents in the Roman Market town of Neath are upset because of a planning application to demolish a 86 year old entertainment building to make way for 12 social housing flats.   The Neath Empire was a cinema that once had a Christie organ until it became a Bingo hall that closed in 2009.

The freehold was sold to Swansea Coastal Housing Association for only £400,000.   Meanwhile a lottery grant of £1.4 miillon was given to NPT council for a £2million refurbishment of the nearby Victoria Gardens - open air gardens built during the reign of Queen Victoria.

For this?

If planning permission is granted, the site will be based on the following plans:-

We feel that any enthusiastic millionaire could make a great investment by saving the Empire and making it a ballroom/entertainment centre based on the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
www.empirecinemaneath.tk

Ghost leaves lights on? See: www.neathferret.co.uk