A man who set up camp for a day inside a former art deco cinema that’s due to be knocked down has vowed to return to delay the demolition crews in protest at a lack of facilities in the area. Nick Haskins said he walked straight into the cinema building on Filwood Broadway in Knowle West yesterday (Monday).
It comes as the building company tasked with knocking it down and building flats in its place, began stripping out all the fixtures and fittings. The police were called as Nick, a local activist and campaigner, got into what was the projection room and then onto the roof, and broadcast a Facebook Live video pledging to stay there ‘as long as it takes’.
Nick said he was initially occupying the building to prevent it being demolished, but after spending the day inside he now understands it has to be knocked down. Now, he said he will go back in when the demolition crews return next month to highlight the dire need for more facilities for young people in the area.
