COLCHESTER Gazette readers have had their say on Facebook after it was revealed that Cineworld has pulled out of the Northern Gateway project, leaving the site empty.

Phil Suarez thinks that the current situation at Northern Gateway will head towards being a “financial disaster”.

He said: “A real shame as I have a Cineworld Unlimited card which would have seen far more usage in Colchester rather than travelling to Ipswich or Braintree.

“The council maybe need to offer very cheap rent to get someone interested otherwise the whole scheme is in peril.”

Colchester resident Nicholas Chilvers isn’t surprised that Cineworld pulled out due to the fact that the national company is going through a financial restructuring.

Nicholas said: "It seems that people on here think that businesses operate as a favour to them.

“They operate for to create profit for their shareholders, this is an international business that's failing. No profit so no new destinations, no surprise.”

Emma Badcock is “absolutely livid” about the situation and said: “As someone who cannot drive, I depend upon my partner and carer to get me to Cineworld in Ipswich.

“I would have loved to have been able to get the bus myself to Northern Gateway to the cinema, it is absolutely awful that they’ve kept us waiting this long to not go ahead.”

Noel Haynes agrees, he said: “Cineworld was going to be the best thing there.”

Fellow Colchester resident Chris Clements-Payne thinks the Odeon should take on the site.

He said: “Why not ask Odeon to take over the new site, staff could be transferred and keep their jobs, and we get a shiny new cinema.”