Now get the Odeon Building back into productive use

IT SHOULD have been obvious to anyone with eyes open that the Odeon building was viable with the auditorium retained, and the mystery remains: why did the developer, Edinburgh city council, and the council's external consultant all conclude otherwise?

When the campaign to save the Odeon started, no-one (including the campaigners) gave it much chance of success.

It's a credit to half a dozen individuals, some rigorous work by Historic Scotland, and a record-breaking petition signed by 5,500 people that the Odeon today is not already turned to dust.

The Odeon has the finest auditorium in Edinburgh and, according to Historic Scotland, is of national and international importance, and worthy of A-listing.

An immediate priority is to have that A-listing confirmed, to give the building extra protection.

Beyond that, after sitting idle for six years, the building must be returned to productive use as soon as possible. There are those who want to buy it and retain the historic auditorium.

If the developer won't sell, the council should issue a compulsory purchase order for the building and, to avoid cost to the taxpayer, arrange an immediate sell-on to a new owner.

• Tom Pate is a campaigner with the Theatres Trust.