DEVELOPERS behind the £20million Torwood Street development have dropped the proposed digital cinema from their plans.

And questions remain about whether hotel chain Ramada will now be involved in the scheme.

New Riviera Estates, who are behind the revamp, says it no longer intends to build the cinema alongside the proposed 80-bedroom hotel, flats, retail and restaurant complex because it is "not viable".

The company has also admitted being in talks with various hotel chains, despite saying a deal had been signed with international firm Ramada last year.

Light Cinema, which had hoped to build a multi-screen venue in the Torwood Street complex, denied that it had pulled out of Torquay and claimed that New Riviera Estates were now more interested in a bigger hotel.

New Riviera Estate bosses have insisted a leisure aspect of the project will remain, but said the cinema was no longer a viable option.

Peter Tisdale, director of New Riviera Estates, said: "I can confirm that, following detailed negotiations with operators, the proposed cinema is no longer considered viable and it is unlikely that this will form part of the proposed mix of new leisure uses.

"We remain committed to providing an exciting mixed use development in Torwood Street, which will bring new life to Torbay and deliver significant investment and employment opportunities."

Mr Tisdale said the plans, even without the cinema, could still create up to 300 jobs in the Bay.

John Sullivan, co-founder of the Light Cinema, said the developers had dropped the cinema because the commercial interests of the hotel took over the plans.

He said: "It is very disappointing. We put a lot of time and effort into it. But the commercial interests of the hotel overtook it.

"It was thought that this was an ideal location for a modern cinema in Torquay.

"It was a brilliant location – I can't imagine a better one for it in Torquay.

"It has got the row of restaurants, and the only thing it really lacks is a cinema."

The scheme, which first came to light 18 months ago and included a controversial 11-storey tower that was later dropped, will now have to go back through the planning process.

Objectors to the project, which has undergone several phases, have criticised New Riviera Estates.

Susie Colley, vice-chairman of the newly-founded Torbay Urban Forum, who opposed the original 11-storey building plans, said: "I'm disappointed with the company's decision to drop the cinema – it was the only leisure facility of the plan.

"What we don't want is another low rate hotel for stag and hen nights. What we want is to make Torbay more upmarket."

Permission for the project — including the cinema — was given by the council's planning committee on June 14. The detailed design of the building and a Section 106 agreement are among the issues being discussed.

Mr Tisdale said: "The omission of the cinema requires a revised, amended planning application to be submitted to Torbay Council.

"Discussions with future operators remain on-going, and we hope to be in a position to confirm further details about the mix of leisure and retail uses proposed and revised plans in the coming weeks."

Tormohun ward councillor Jenny Faulkner said it was a shame the cinema had been dropped out of the plans, because it would have brought people to that end of the Bay.

"It was part of their remit that a cinema should be there," she said. "It was part of the design they sought public consultation on.

"I'm fed up with people who say 'unless you do this it will not be viable'.

"Well, don't hold a gun to our head and stop messing us about, but go and do what you consulted people about."

Margaret Forbes-Hamilton, a member of Torbay Heritage Forum, is calling for the plan to demolish the original buildings to be revisited.

English Heritage said the existing Victorian frontage made a "positive contribution to the area" when it was consulted on the plans. But despite that, Torbay Council planners gave the go-ahead for the buildings to be destroyed.

"It would be a very valid point that the demolition of those buildings should be revisited," Ms Forbes-Hamilton said.

"It is disappointing that they are going to be losing one of the uses of the site.

"They have let the current buildings fall into dereliction and have closed them up.

"It will now be even longer that this part of the bottom of Torquay is going to look appalling."

Last week a statement from Mr Tisdale said: "Discussions remain on-going with several operators, including international hotel brands, which are still to be confirmed." The firm declined to comment further on whether Ramada was now part of those discussions or not.

A statement issued through its PR company, Remarkable, said: "New Riviera Estates has provided the Herald Express with an updated statement regarding the Torwood Street proposal and has no further comment to make at this stage. However, once New Riviera Estates is in position to announce further details regarding its proposal it will ensure the Herald Express is informed."

Deputy mayor Chris Lewis confirmed that Torbay Council had been in contact with the developers, and said: "It's a wait and see game. I can't comment on it until I know what they will put in its place.

"It might not be a negative that the cinema is gone. We just need to see what will replace it."

A spokesman for Torbay Council's planning department said: "We can confirm that we are in pre-application discussions with the developers, which are on-going."