Leisure boss Paul Gregg has assured residents a planned cinema at one of his luxury homes will cause no noise problems.

Mr Gregg - European chairman of SFX, which bought his Oxford-based Apollo Leisure UK group for £160m - and his wife Nita want to build the private cinema in their house, Yatsden, on Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill Heath.

The proposals include building an underground double garage with the cinema on the ground floor. However, Vale of White Horse councillors are worried about noise levels from the cinema and have deferred a decision for reports.

But Mr Gregg said there was no need for anxiety.

He said the cinema was his wife's project, and added: "There would be no noise element. It is strictly for private use with a capacity of six to eight seats. It is a private cinema attached to the house. It is just like a giant TV room."

Officers had recommended the plans be approved, but the planning committee has since deferred a decision. Reports are now to be compiled by the council's environment officers.

Cllr Tony Slade said: "I am very much against the plans as the cinema would be noisy. Boars Hill is, and should, be a quiet, peaceful neighbourhood."

Story date: Friday 03 September

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