FOR those who have campaigned to save the Blossom Street Odeon from possible closure it is great news to hear the owners are considering a million pound refurbishment of the complex.

With imagination this could be the landmark it once was and a leading cinema within their circuit.

However, MP Hugh Bayley must be cautious in siding with Odeon against the council and claiming they had made a mistake by going against the original scheme, which partly involved the removal of the unique example of original signage.

The company had already agreed to retain this before reneging on their promise and lack of any investment in the site for many years made the building shabby and rundown.

It's not that I want the Odeon preserving in aspic, but for such an important example of this type of building any plans have to be sympathetic (one of the points of our campaign) and look toward preserving what makes the cinema a 1930s design icon.

For a city with many examples of outstanding architecture from all periods I am grateful to the council for having the forethought to demand the owners treat the building with respect.

Screen 1 is still a great space to watch a film. It still sells out to new releases.

Okay, there are significant improvements that can be made to the space in terms of seating, sound and projection, but the possibility of carving the area up into smaller screens means we could easily be left with a bland, boring multiplex inside a pretty shell.

Pick up the gauntlet Odeon bosses and let's have some atmosphere with our popcorn.

We wait to see your exciting plans for our cinema with great expectation.

Tim Addyman,

East Lane,

Shipton, York.

Updated: 10:10 Friday, April 15, 2005