ODEON bosses delivered a slap in the face to the 13,600 people who signed our petition and to York itself yesterday.

Not one manager from the cinema chain's headquarters had the good grace to meet our party and receive the petition.

While this craven bunch hid in their plush Leicester Square offices, they left the MP for York, Hugh Bayley, standing on the doorstep. This goes beyond mere bad manners: it was a deliberate snub. A snub to the people who pay their wages, York filmgoers; to some of their own staff who signed the petition; to the likes of Dame Judi Dench, Frank Dobson and now Ann Widdecombe who support our campaign.

What a contrast a few hours later. After the Odeon slammed the door in the face of York, it rolled out the red carpet for stars attending the premiere of Starsky and Hutch.

No doubt those same bosses who had effectively stuck two fingers up to thousands of York film fans were glad-handing the stars.

Now we know where the Odeon's priorities lie. We are not unduly surprised. Two hundred miles north of London's glitzy West End, the York Odeon stands neglected.

A woeful lack of investment has seen this wonderful film theatre decline into a shabby shadow of its former self. The Odeon's record of disrespecting its customers began long before our visit to London.

The listed building's future remains in the balance. This week the Odeon chain was sold. We must hope the new owners see our petition and recognise the astonishing support it represents for their York cinema.

If they undertake to refurbish the building, they can rebuild the Odeon's dented reputation. They might begin by apologising for the appalling ignorance demonstrated by their managers yesterday.

Updated: 10:37 Friday, March 12, 2004