Movie fans have received a fresh blow in their battle for a cinema.

The Vale of White Horse is pressing ahead with plans to demolish Abingdon's Regal Cinema with the aim of developing the town's west central area into houses, shops and offices.

The move follows the Government's lifting of a ban preventing the council making any decision on the derelict cinema's future. No progress has so far been made on finding an alternative cinema site in Abingdon.

Steve Annells, chairman of Tithe Farm Residents' Association, said: "We have to accept now that reviving the Regal is now a lost cause. It seems likely that Abingdon will be left without a cinema.

"The Vale has avoided looking too closely at any town centre site on the grounds that it would not be economically viable. I suspect developments in Didcot town centre (which incorporate a cinema) or Oxford's plans for a multiplex will be the nearest we get to a cinema catering for Abingdon now."

Environment Secretary and deputy Prime MinisterJohn Prescott had banned any decision on the Regal's future until a public inquiry into plans for a multiplex outside Abingdon was completed. After the multiplex was turned down in May, cinema fans hoped the Regal site could house a new cinema.

Bob Johnston, the Vale's leader, said: "I am delighted that the log-jam has been broken and we can proceed with a sensible and balanced re-development of the site in line with the wishes of the people.

"We are sorry we are unable to incorporate cinema facilities in the scheme. No commercial operator was forthcoming."

Story date: Wednesday 27 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.