A woman with a learning disability says closing Ayr Odeon would be “devastating for South Ayrshire” as she and many others rely on the cinema for socialising.
Fiona Dawson, from Ayr, has hit out at the shock closure after Odeon bosses announced on May 5 that the venue was “no longer viable.”
The company said that “following a thorough assessment of all available options,” they had taken the decision to shut the movie theatre next month on June 5.
Furious film buffs have since launched a campaign and an online petition in a bid to save the historic art deco cinema for future generations to enjoy.
And Fiona, who has Down’s Syndrome, said she, along with others who frequently use the cinema, are “very saddened” by the closure of the town’s only big chain cinema.
She said: “I was shocked when I heard about the closure.
“We only had that Odeon for South Ayrshire. The Odeon is the heart of Ayr- we all loved it so much.
“It meant so much to me as it was walkable distance and showed great films.
“I have a learning disability and I live independently. For people like me, we would have to travel to the nearest cinema. What about those who live independently and have support? There are people not able to travel.
“This would be devastating for South Ayrshire for the Odeon to be closing its doors. We will lose this for good, something we all enjoy.”
Fiona - who is a champion for individuals with learning disabilities through her involvement with The Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities’ (SCLD) and National Involvement Network (NIN) - has blasted the closure, adding that many within the disabled community use it for recreation and meeting others.
Fiona added: “I love my films and it’s good for people’s mental health. I really care about human rights for all.
“The whole point of having a community is being a part of it- we would like to be involved and for us to have a voice.
“I feel very passionately about our community in South Ayrshire and I would like to see South Ayrshire thrive and not going downhill.”
An Odeon spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have made the difficult decision to close our Ayr cinema following a thorough assessment of all available options. We would like to apologise to our guests for any inconvenience this will cause.
“Supporting the ODEON Ayr team is our number one priority, and we would like to thank our colleagues for all their incredible work over the years at the cinema.
“We will be looking to secure jobs for as many of them as possible in our other local cinemas.”
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