COUNCILLORS have raised fears for the future of Weston-super-Mare’s historic cinema organ as the cinema that houses it is set to close.

The 1930’s Compton organ in the Odeon is one of only two working cinema organs left working in England, councillor for Weston-super-Mare Uphill John Crockford-Hawley told North Somerset Council on Tuesday May 23.

He said: “This is in perfect working order. It rises from the pit. It is magnificent and it has been wonderfully maintained by volunteers.

“Unfortunately the Odeon cinema is closing on June 5, and we don’t know what’s going to happen to this great instrument.”

Council leader Mike Bell said: “I think we were all concerned when we heard about the threat to the Odeon cinema and the intention for its closure, a very important iconic building in the centre of Weston-super-Mare and of course, as you mention, the organ as well.”

He said: “I have already written to Odeon to ask for a senior-level meeting with them to understand their intentions for the future of the site.

“And we have already got a team of officers looking at options and making sure that we can try and engage with the owners of the building to make sure it is not lost and put at risk.

“Because the last thing we want to see is that building ending up mothballed and another vacant building in the town centre which is difficult to deal with.

“So we will certainly do everything we can to support the community in campaigning to save that building and — critically — to protect the organ.”

The cinema organ was played in a final concert on Sunday.

Mr Crockford-Hawley said: “It blew to its 16-foot magnificence on Sunday and a large audience both appreciated and listed to its performance.”

He added: “There are three of those instruments in Weston-super-Mare.

“There can’t be another town in England with three pipe organs built by John Compton in the 1930s.”