The plan is to turn the former Moderne Cinema and Gala bingo hall in to a multi purpose facility for use by all members of the community and also to become administration offices for Bournemouth Community Church aswell as a home for the church members Sunday meetings.

This 3d walkthrough has been put together based on current plans in an effort to show how spaces could be used by a range of different  businesses as a meeting place and also organisations such as theatre groups, dance groups, youth clubs, local film makers and cinema clubs.  The finished building will include conference, sports and cinema facilities.

Phase 1 is currently underway and includes work to the new frontage and interior including the entrance passageway, large main lobby and the upper foyer, that will include a coffee bar, giving business people an informal meeting place and somewhere for locals to drop in for lunch or to just catch up with friends.

Target for competeing Phase 1 is May this year!!!

Phase 2 will concentrate on the upstairs auditorium. This will be made up from the existing upper gallery that will be extended forwards over the main hall and it’s hoped that it will seat approximately 1000 people and will include a stage, backstage facilities, professional sound system, lighting and cinema projection facilities.

Though phase 1 moves on at pace, funding phase 2 of the renovation is a big issue and work may well be delayed until 2011.

Project manager David Carr gives us an overview of the work to be carried out during phase 1 …

Lifting the carpet revealed a wooden floor set into concrete creating the slope at the front and a wooden platform over a concrete base at the front and stage areas.

With the floors on show the other fixtures, such as the snack bar and bar areas on either side of the main hall, were removed and the debris placed in two large skips positioned in the car park at the rear.

This work has left the floors clear of obstructions so the machinery can be brought in and used to start the demolition of the stage areas and also to investigate the best method for removing the sloping floor.

As well as checking for easy access and fire exits, the bingo tables needed to be removed, and electrical systems for lighting and sound had to be cleared as safe. There was a big response from volunteers and the work began in the week running up to the service on the 15th March 2009.

A plan was quickly formulated and in one evening the whole lower floor was cleared and all the top deck was cleared, but for a row of seating that acted as a safety rail.