Is this the betrayal of all betrayals? Bassetlaw Council votes for a new supermarket in order to build a cinema. Councillors agreed the Tesco development explicitly on this basis. They sold the land to the supermarket, who gave them £10 million for the land plus £2.6 million for a cinema. But last summer they then went onto separate out the planning decisions, decoupling the two developments. Then surprise, surprise they now say they cannot build the cinema as planned.

Last year they blamed the Environment Agency, who nearly took legal action as the Bassetlaw claims were untrue. Their planning conditions on Turner Road are no different to what they were before. But as the Environment Agency told me this Wednesday, to shift a development from a non flood plain to a flood plain (the pony land on Retford Road) does not save money.

The Council blame the loss of bingo and a bowling alley, but the bingo was removed from the project over four years ago, as Steve Lavelle from Apollo Leisure has already confirmed to me. A bowling alley is planned for phase three - after the cinema has opened. The Council is not telling the whole truth.

They blame a European Court ruling, but this was 2 years 11 months ago. Similar developments have proceeded without any problem and this ruling was available before Bassetlaw de-coupled the Clinton Maltkins and Turner Road. Any hurdles that they say arise from this ruling apply equally to the alternative sites they are proposing.

A senior Bassetlaw officer told me earlier this year that the politicians running the council wanted a new site. He correctly identified the two sites that are now being proposed. Both are hugely complex sites that could cost more money not less. Frankly I don't care where in Worksop the cinema is built, but in my view this new plan exists only to create further delay. Apollo Leisure say they have never faced delays like this anywhere in the country.

The truth is obvious. Bassetlaw Council have speculated your money on the money markets and lost £8 million in Iceland. They are struggling to get the money back. Therefore they have sought ways to push the cinema into the long grass using a set of half truths. I am beginning to question whether they really want Worksop to have a cinema.

We have a cinema operator raring to go - indeed they want to build a 3D capacity in Worksop. They have the money they need. Two food outlets are signed up. The council has over £12 million in the bank from Tesco. The Council will be stabbing Worksop in the back if it does not proceed now with the cinema. I therefore offer them an immediate meeting to discuss a proposal I have for how the cinema can be built within the next 12 months.

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If you have received a letter from Raleys Solicitors this week then you should claim your money back. If you want help and advice in doing this then contact me.

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