Campaigner hopes to turn a ‘negative into a positive’ in bid to save former South Shields cinema building

Sean Wilson, a former pupil at South Shields’s St Wilfrid’s Roman Catholic College, is hoping to secure protected status for the Regent Cinema and Mecca Bingo Hall building, in Dean Road.

The 37-year-old launched his petition and appeal to Historic England from his home after being stood down from his job in the leisure industry due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I think a lot of people, not everyone but a lot, are spending more time at home and looking at hobbies and things to do.

“This was something where I could turn a negative into a positive to try and stimulate a bit of interest and discussion by turning it into a petition.”

He added: “I don’t have any development interest in the site, I don’t live in Dean Road, but that’s not the point.

“I’ve talked about shared heritage, which I think is very important – once it’s gone it’s gone.”

Mr Wilson was also previously a planning officer at South Tyneside Council, which has approved plans to flatten the 1930s building for ‘future re-development’.

He says researching the site’s history and promoting the campaign has helped maintain an ‘active mind’ while much of everyday life has been put on hold, as well as preparing for the resumption of normal life.

He added: “Even after this we will still have a town and families and friends and this is something we should protect without being short-sighted.”

The building was designed by Cecil Clavering, an architect born in Sunderland who specialised in cinemas.

Visit www.change.org/p/historic-england-save-south-shields-regent-cinema-and-mecca-bingo-hall-from-demolition to find out more about the campaign.

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