Furious councillors took to the streets in protest after plans for an eight-screen multiplex cinema were turned down by the Government.

Vale of White Horse councillors were stunned by yesterday's decision by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to refuse the £7m multiplex cinema on the outskirts of Abingdon and collected 267 signatures opposing the decision.

Protesting councillors were joined in Abingdon's Market Square by BBC radio comedy writer Paul Mayhew-Archer. The Vale of White Horse District Council wants to build the complex on land adjoining Tesco's supermarket, west of Abingdon town centre.

Terry Stock, the Vale's chief executive, said: "This decision will be a great disappointment to the people of Abingdon and surrounding areas who will now have to continue to travel considerable distances to go to the cinema.

"Not only would the proposal have brought a cinema to Abingdon, it would also have provided a park and ride facility and improved public transport links to the town centre. "The council will be considering the reasons for the decision very carefully before deciding its next steps".

Chris Cousins, chief planner at Oxfordshire County Council, which opposed the Vale's plan, said Mr Prescott's decision provided strong support for its case that the development was too large, in the wrong place and would lead to the decline of Abingdon town centre and surrounding areas.

He added: "We are very encouraged by the result."

Story date: Saturday 22 May

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