Movie fans are being urged to back a project for a new eight-screen cinema when a public inquiry re-opens next week.

The Abingdon multiplex scheme will be debated in the town's Guildhall for six days from Tuesday, November 24, when the public has the chance to put forward their views.

Hugo Hawkings, the chief executive of Discovery Properties, which hopes to build the Warner Brothers cinema, visited the suggested site on wasteground, south of the Tesco superstore in Marcham Road.

He said: "We are aware that there is strong support for this scheme from the public and urge people to come forward to express that support at the inquiry.

"All too often schemes such as this fail because the silent majority does not speak out in their favour."

Independent research carried out by BBJ Media Services showed that the new multiplex would significantly reduce travel times for residents going the cinema.

The inquiry is resuming after it opened on October 7, but had to be postponed due to incomplete paperwork.

Oxfordshire County Council, which opposes the plans, claimed that it had prepared its case on the basis of an eight-screen cinema, two restaurants and car parking and modifications to Sandford Brook.

But Discovery Properties had changed the plans to include a park and ride scheme linked to the town centre which would mean a reduction in the planned 700 parking spaces.

Inspector Gillian Grindey said that there had been a distinct lack of contact between the parties in the run-up to the inquiry.

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