KEIGHLEY'S newly-revived civic society hopes to protect a landmark building in the town from potential development.
The society agreed at its inaugural meeting on Saturday (July 15) that it will apply for the one-time Ritz Cinema to be listed as an asset of community value.
Latterly operated by Buzz Bingo, the company announced earlier this year that the Alice Street premises were to close and they were subsequently put on the market.
The building began life in 1938 as the Ritz Cinema.
At the time of its opening, the art deco structure was described as "leading the way in luxury cinema construction and accommodation".
It seated around 1,500 and had a workforce of nearly 40, including a resident organist.
But the cinema, which later became known as the ABC, closed its doors in 1974 and was subsequently converted to bingo – Gala and then Buzz.
Civic society secretary, Jane Lee, says: "We shall be applying for the former Ritz Cinema to be listed as an asset of community value so that Keighley residents will have the opportunity to protect the fabric of the building and propose a community use for it."
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