A TAKEOVER deal for Basildon’s abandoned new cinema on a £25million complex is hoped to be “done and dusted by Christmas”.

The project, which had been expected to open in 2022 under the Empire brand, has been cursed with delays and recently has been recovered by the council.

Echo: Cursed - Basildon Empire CinemaCursed - Basildon Empire Cinema (Image: Newsquest)

Now, Craig Rimmer, Conservative councillor responsible for economic stimulus and tourism, has told the Echo a deal could be reached in three months, following multiple chains submitting bids, with brands believed to include Odeon and Vue.

He said: “The future of this project is bright, and the council is going at speed with a takeover process as a matter of urgency.

“We’ve got between four and six cinema operators that have submitted interest to us, and this gives us hope to get something done and dusted by Christmas.

“Right now, we’re considering their bids to ensure Basildon is getting good value for its residents, and then we’ll be in a position to decide who’ll be the best to run it.”

Echo: Hopeful - Craig RimmerHopeful - Craig Rimmer (Image: Basildon Council)

Amidst the private conversations, residents are angry about it being left in an abandoned state.

The Conservative-run council announced it “recovered possession of the cinema building” on August 25, in East Square to “safeguard the premises and protect the interests of both the council and taxpayers”.

It followed numerous promises by the administration that it will open by December 2022, followed by the summer in time for blockbuster releases.

However, Maryam Yaqub, St Martin’s ward Labour councillor, said at the July 20 council meeting that transparency and communication is essential but claims she “hasn’t been regularly informed”.

Echo: Annoyed - Maryam YaqubAnnoyed - Maryam Yaqub (Image: Basildon Council)

She said: “Residents will see this as more promises being made, resulting in little faith in what the administration says.

“The biggest problem is the lack of updates. With me being the ward councillor of where this huge asset sits, it’s embarrassing when my residents ask me for updates, and I can’t give them a clear answer.

“This is, I’m afraid, yet another continuation of going round in circles.”