OKEHAMPTON’s New Carlton Cinema could get a third screen after town councillors agreed in principle to the addition of a new screen on the upper floor of the Market Hall building.

Merlin Cinemas, the company that runs the cinema in the former market hall building, approached Okehampton Town Council with the idea of adding a third screen to the upper floor, with the intention that should the initial plans get council support, they would press forward with detailed plans for the extension.

At their property meeting earlier this month, councillors supported the idea in principle.

Town clerk Paul Snell said: ’At this stage the council felt the idea for a third screen at the cinema was very positive in principle and looked forward to seeing plans fleshed out in greater detail.

’Councillors felt the cinema is an asset for a small town like Okehampton, not only in the sense of bringing the latest releases to the town but also for bringing live performances of productions at the Opera House and other live streamed productions.’

The New Carlton Cinema is based in the old market hall. It replaced the Carlton Cinema, which stood on a redevelopment site once known as Painters Court near St James Chapel. Throughout most of its life the original cinema was run by William Pope, later run by his son John before its closure in 2003.