A BOOST has been given to the community campaign to re-open the cinema in Wotton-under-Edge.

Two major awards totalling £47,000 have been granted to the project.

Jubilant campaigners say they will use the money to pay for further improvements to the fabric of the building - ahead of the opening of the Electric Picture House planned for the autumn.

Stroud District Council's grant of £32,000 from its 2005-2006 Capital Investment Programme is the biggest donation so far to the cinema fund, while the £15,000 awarded by the Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance Scheme (sponsored by the South West Regional Development Agency) takes the overall figure raised to more than £120,000.

Jeff Walshe, chairman of the cinema fundraising group, said: "This is fantastic news and we are extremely grateful to the district council and to those running the Rural Renaissance Scheme.

"We had already raised enough money to do the basics and get the cinema opened again - our phase one project.

"But as a result of these two grants, we can go ahead with phases two and three when the builders move in during April. That means we can improve disabled access, modernise the heating system to include air-conditioning, and enhance many other features in the auditorium and box-office area."

Stroud District Council's deputy leader, Cllr Nigel Studdert-Kennedy, who heads the authority's regeneration and tourism work, said:"I congratulate all involved on their hard work and look forward to Wotton-under-Edge having a cinema again." Claire Caffall, manager for the Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance Scheme, said:

"The bid for funds was considered to represent a novel and highly innovative proposal, demonstrating particular commitment and enterprise on the part of a small community co-operative.

"As the first community initiative to receive support from the scheme's small project fund, the Electric Cinema project has set a high standard for other community groups to follow."

The community cinema project has now received three major grants during the last few months, having also been awarded nearly £30,000 by the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust in November 2004.

Mr Walshe said that most of the group's financial targets had now been met, although it was continuing to fundraise for ongoing running costs and better equipment.

The community cinema group was formed only weeks after the previous managers of the cinema suddenly closed it in the autumn of 2002.

The new management target is to open in September, showing quality modern and classic films from DVD/VHS. The multi-media facility will also be flexible enough to be used for other forms of entertainment and for business events.