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Lights, camera...blow! Sheppey could have its own outdoor cinema with inflatable screen

SEAL Members Chris Foulds, Toby Palmer and Brian Spoor at the location of the proposed open air cinema at Beachfields, Sheerness
SEAL Members Chris Foulds, Toby Palmer and Brian Spoor at the location of the proposed open air cinema at Beachfields, Sheerness

Saturday night at the movies. Who cares what picture you see?

Well one Island charity does, as it hopes to launch a free open air cinema on Sheppey.

Sheerness Enhancement Association for Leisure (SEAL) has drawn up a business plan and has ambitions for a five-week festival of film this August.

It would need around £9,500 in grants for a projector and other equipment, as well as approval from Swale council.

The proposed location is the gardens near the entrance to the Sheppey Leisure Complex in Beachfields, Sheerness, where an inflatable screen would be set up against the sea wall.

Movies would be shown around dusk for audiences to bring their own fold out chairs or blankets to lie on.

SEAL’s new treasurer, Toby Palmer, came up with the idea of a drive-in cinema but, after some discussions, it was decided a sit down cinema would be easier to implement.

The charity has made initial approaches to Swale council about turning the idea into a reality.

The plan has the issue of noise to contend with as there are concerns sound from the screenings would affect flats nearby.

Chris Fouldscorr, of SEAL, said: “It’s hard to say until we purchase the equipment and give it a test. It is one of those things we have to try it to see if it would work.”

“If it’s a success and I believe it can be, then it would be a fantastic summer for Sheerness.

“If it’s successful, then potentially we’ve got the equipment, we could bring it out for Halloween as well.”

He added the group is keen for community involvement and hopes members of the public could choose which blockbuster they would like to see.

A spokesman from Swale council said: “I understand one of my colleagues spoke to someone from SEAL and gave guidance only on what they would need to do in order to gain permissions for an event such as this.

“Of course anything that brings the community together is a good thing but must be done so to ensure it is done so safely, and considers residences and businesses within the location.

“We will be happy to discuss it further with them.”

  • For more Island film titles, search #sheppeymovies on Twitter.
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