People back Admiral plan but they want the cinema

DEVELOPING Admiral Park to provide islanders with a new cinema, hotel, gym, restaurants and offices would be 'brilliant' – if everything mentioned as possibilities was provided, the Culture and Leisure minister has said.

Comprop has submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a mixed-use development with a 600-space underground car park and a new road encircling the site, which is opposite Waitrose and includes Sydney Vane House.

All suggested amenities would go ahead only if companies approached the developer wanting space to provide them.

Deputy Mike O'Hara, who has long campaigned for a new cinema, was encouraged after seeing the new plans but stressed the importance of a cinema being included.

'It didn't get built in the last development, for whatever reason, and we don't want a situation like that again,' he said.