PART of a last-ditch bid to stop Blackburn’s Reel Cinema development will be open to the press and public.

The Blackburn with Darwen Council call-in committee meeting, due to take place tomorrow, was originally scheduled to be held behind closed doors due to commercial sensitivity rules.

But senior councillors have agreed to hold part of the meeting in public.

Conservative councillor Derek Hardman submitted a call-in request in a bid to get Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ruling Labour group to scrap the Reel Cinema development set to be built on the old Waves Water Fun Centre site.

The development was given final approval by the council’s executive board earlier this month.

The council’s director of HR, legal and governance, David Fairclough, said: “The decision which was called in by six councillors was originally considered by the executive board under part two which exempts the press and public from part of the meeting due to commercially sensitive information.

“It was only the part two item that was called-in.

“However, Cllrs Phil Riley and Andy Kay have made a formal request via the Call-in Committee chair, Cllr Kevin Connor,  to consider the part one report (which is open to the public) at the meeting, which has been agreed.

“They think the information that is in the public domain should be debated in public and the committee should only go into part two for specific confidential issues.

“This includes commercial/financial information which will form part of the terms for commercial negotiations with a third-party contractor.

“Any disclosure of such information could prejudice the council’s commercial position in the future.”

The cinema complex will be built by the council but leased to Reel for an initial 20 years.

Council bosses say rental income will cover the development costs and leave the borough owning the building and freehold.

The £6.5m scheme is for a single storey eight-screen cinema incorporating a bar and food and drink units.

It will be complemented by a further £3.5m underground car park and a public realm outdoor space, better linking the Northgate/King George’s Hall/Blackburn College area of town.

It is expected to be completed by November 2019.

The building will then be handed over to Reel.

2020.