MOVES are being made by Croydon Council that could lead to the reopening of The David Lean Cinema and the rest of the Clocktower complex in Katharine Street.

The cinema, exhibition spaces and the arts bar were closed last year as part of the council's budget-cutting exercise.

Councillor Sara Bashford, cabinet member for culture and sport, made it plain this week the council still could not resume funding the venues itself.

But, she said, a meeting is being planned for February at which it is hoped to attract interest from outside organisations, including private companies or social enterprises, to take over the running of the Clocktower.

It is understood there have been approaches from a group of people interested in running it as an arts complex, including the cinema. This group is believed to have presented a business plan to the council.

The group fighting for the reopening of the David Lean also has members who have expressed an interest in running the 60-seat cinema as a commercial operation, showing the specialist films that formed part of its original brief.

Cllr Bashford said: "We would welcome anyone who has interest in running the Clocktower to come along and find out what it entails."

She explained anyone taking on the complex would have to assume responsibility for its security and maintenance and decide how to work alongside the council, which continues to operate the central library, Riesco Gallery and the Croydon museum in the building.

The council has indicated in the past that running the cinema alone would probably not be an option because of the overall security and maintenance issues.

Cllr Bashford added: "It might be possible for an interested organisation to work with the David Lean group to run things overall.

"What we are doing by holding this meeting is trying to bring people together."

Adrian Winchester, chairman of the David Lean campaign group, said: "This does represent a dramatic shift on the council's part if they are prepared to be more receptive to ideas.

"In the past we have had a very negative response."

Mr Winchester said he believed campaign members would be keen to attend the meeting and present ideas which could be examined by the council.