Council afraid of competition? 

There is an undercurrent of thought in Neath that the council wanted to demolish the Empire building not to have competition with the council owned Gwyn Hall due to open on 8th March.
Below are two clips from the Neath Guardian dated 6th November 1936 when the cinema was refurbished.

Below the cinema there was a cafe and a ballroom with a Victorian sprung dance floor - said to be only one of two of its kind in the UK.   When this building is gone, it will be gone forever.
Did the council act in the interests of the majority?  The future will tell.

Read more about the Empire: www.empirecinemaneath.tk