Danny Fullbrook
BBC News, Buckinghamshire
BBC
The Point is set to be demolished for new flats
The Americans who helped launch the UK’s first purpose-built multiplex cinema have urged a council to preserve its legacy.
Charles J. Wesoky and Millard Ochs have written to Milton Keynes Council, calling for the preservation of The Point, a 10-screen cinema that opened in 1985 and closed in 2015.
In July, developer Galliard Holdings Ltd won an appeal to demolish the site and replace it with blocks of flats, overturning the council’s initial refusal.
When asked to respond to the letters, the authority said: “We’re in discussions and seeking a legal position.”
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Millard Ochs told the council the Point should be commemorated with a monument or museum
Mr Ochs, who was a former president of Warner Bros International Cinemas, wrote: “The Point revolutionised cinema-going and set a global standard for multiplexes.
“I see The Point as a testament to innovation and community. Its loss would diminish Milton Keynes’ heritage and the global narrative of cinema’s evolution.
“I implore the council to preserve the building or commemorate its legacy through a monument and museum display, ensuring future generations recognise its impact.”
He suggested the council “issue a Building Preservation Notice to pause demolition for six months” and use that time to pursue listed status from Historic England.
Historic England told the BBC that The Point was assessed and found to fall short of the criteria for listing in February 2021.
It was instead given a Certificate of Immunity, which expires on 14 March 2026, at which point it can be reassessed for listing.
Mr Wesoky sent a supporting letter in which he said The Point was responsible for the “regeneration of the British cinema and film industry”.
The retired chairman and CEO of AMC International Cinemas recalled how they had planned to sell 740,000 tickets in the first year, despite industry analysts predicting less than 500,000 – they eventually sold 1,069,000.
“The heritage of The Point site must be somehow preserved and acknowledged in a meaningful manner,” he wrote.