CREWE Town Council registered their opposition to a proposed £5 million expansion of Crewe’s Odeon cinema that would lead to the loss of the town’s bowling alley.

Members called upon Cheshire East to take on board the council’s views when they rule whether Albermarle Property Opportunities should be allowed to replace ten pin lanes with more cinema screens and restaurant facilities at the Phoenix Leisure Park.

Crewe Ten Pin Academy have said they are 'devastated' by the plans, which would leave them with nowhere to play.

At a meeting on Thursday, December 5, clr Jill Rhodes, chairman of the town council’s planning committee said: “we object to this change which would apparently see the end of the bowling alley and replace it with more cinema screens and an increase in the size of the restaurant area.

“To go this way will reduce the variety of entertainment options for Crewe and South Cheshire as a whole.

“We support business in the area, but not at the expense of a decrease in diversity of the entertainment options. As such we hope to see the option to play ten pin bowls locally well into the future.

“A combination of bowls and the existing cinema is a key part of the entertainment offer that draws people into the Town from near and far.

“We call upon Albermarle Property Opportunities LLP to have a rethink about these plans as we seriously question the need for more screens and more restaurant space.”

Readers can view and comment upon the proposal by visiting planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk and searching under the reference 13/4748N