Project: Clean up the old Odeon Tower!

As much as my aim is to promote a positive vision of Sunderland to both the wider world and its own residents, I cannot ignore the city's drawbacks and areas of improvement. Whilst without a doubt, I am fundamentally opposed to the cynical attitude manifest by many on wearside and the tendency to talk down absolutely anything, I can only concede on the fact we need to highlight areas of improvement too, in a mature and non-confrontational/political way. Of course, rather than using this blog to rant about the usual controversies or subjects of complaint (as many do), I want to focus instead on realistic and pressing issues which most people can agree on. We might not be in the business of elections or candidates, but we certainly are in the business of pushing for action amongst all the people of Sunderland.

What comes to my mind first is the old Odeon Cinema Tower on 42 Holmeside, Sunderland. Firstly, to be quite frank, Holmeside has become the worst part of Sunderland City Centre. It's badly in need of a makeover. Attempts to regenerate the area were quashed by the 2008 financial crisis. The council had an £800 million deal with developer Thornfield Properties secured to completely rebuild the triangle and create a new skyscraper called "The Spirit of Sunderland". The company collapsed, the rest is history. For an unknown reason, the development itself was also mothballed. Now, the main street of Holmeside looks horrendous. Derelict, decaying buildings and empty shop units galore. It's not a pretty sight.

In the middle of it all sits the historic Odeon cinema building, currently occupied by Mecca bingo. The current building was opened in 1932 under the original name of "Black's Regal Cinema", but has long since closed its door to films. Nevertheless the style and iconography of the building gives it importance. It was a defining element of the area's character and soul. However, much to fashion of the Holmeside itself, the tower's appearance is decaying. The paint is fading, cracking and stained. Worse, the edges and rims of the building have become populated with long and highly visible weeds. It looks awful.

Although it is private property, one must surely question how long we can allow a historic structure to take on such a shabby appearance? As a result, Sunderland Renaissance is going to start promoting a refurbishment of the tower exterior as a project to lobby local groups, organisations and individuals on. As part of resurrecting holmeside, we need to clean up the tower. It needs to be painted, it needs to be weeded.

If we are to have pride for the area, we need to be able to express determination, ambition and respect for the assets we have. The Odeon similar building is not some mossy, weedy aztec like ruin lost and forgotten, it's a symbol of Sunderland life and heritage. It's being neglected, we need to sort it out, prompto!