00:00Plans have been submitted to Liverpool City Council to reopen Walton Picturehouse.
00:05The oldest surviving cinema in the city shut its doors in 2020.
00:09Locals crowdfunded over £24,000 to save the much-loved building.
00:13However, people have aired their frustration at a lack of updates over the past almost four years.
00:19Sue Snow, who set up the fundraiser, spoke to us about the update.
00:23I'm just so glad now that there is a bit more transparency and we know what's happening.
00:30And I'd just like a bit more, you know, regular updates would be absolutely great.
00:35In the first social media post since 2020, they thanked customers for their patience
00:40and said they've been working behind the scenes on exciting plans
00:44and that they've recently submitted a planning application to Liverpool City Council.
00:48I think now is the time that, you know, they've said it's the right time to try and reopen.
00:56So here's hoping.
00:57The planning application, which is available to view on the City Council's website,
01:01states plans to continue the use of the building as a cinema and mixed art event space,
01:06facilitated by the replacement of the existing roof and installation of solar panels,
01:11new ramped access and refurbishment of signage and canopy with an installation of a new glass roof.
01:18The cinema's got such a good community base. It's part and centre to Walton Village.
01:26And as a child, I used to go and there's just so many nice memories for quite a lot of people.
01:33And when that first notice went up that the cinema was closing,
01:37it was, no, we need to do something. We need to stop this and try and keep it open.
01:43So I just launched a GoFundMe page.
01:46Walton Picture House opened its doors in 1927.
01:49Throughout the Second World War,
01:51it provided the local community with news from the front line and even survived the Blitz.
01:56Walton Picture House has been approached for comment.
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