THE public will be asked to decide the fate of Chippenham's landmark cinema building which most recently housed Goldiggers nightclub.

Fears the building could be demolished provoked a storm of protest from local people who wanted the art deco former Gaumont cinema preserved.

The building in Timber Street has been closed since Easter when tenants Gold Leisure fell behind with the rent.

Now owners North Wiltshire District Council are preparing a wide ranging consultation spelling out the options for future use and the financial implications.

But even before the contents of the consultation document are made public, fears have been raised the questions will be loaded to put people off preserving the building as a community facility.

David Reeves, a member of the Chippenham Civic Society, is keen the building should be retained as an entertainment centre.

"The public consultation questions bother me. They could be loaded in such a way that the district council gets the answers it wants," he said.

"Remember Monkton Park open air pool the threat of a few pence extra on the rates was the death knell for its survival. My rates have gone up year on year and will continue to do so whether the Gaumont is saved or not."

The consultation document was discussed by the district council's executive comittee behind closed doors last week when members decided on the information to be included.

Coun Allnatt, who attended the meeting, said afterwards the document would spell out clear alternatives to the people but expressed his own concerns the questions could be weighted.

"We could get rid of it, we could use it for the community or we could let it for profit and use the money elsewhere," he said.

"But I think the way the questions are put together could make it biased, so it seems more attractive to go down the commericial route. Some of the financial figures are guesswork which makes it look very expensive to go down the community use route," he said.

Coun Allnatt said he had received around 30 letters as well as another 20 verbal communications.

"It is an issue arousing people's interest, not just among the young but older people who have fond memories of the place," he said. "I am quite surprised it's not exactly Bath stone architecture."

The consultation process will be launched within two weeks. Residents across the district will be canvassed, as the financial implications will affect council tax payers in other towns.

The consultation, expected to be finished by January, will be wide ranging, with exhibitions and questionnaires, presentations to youth councils, leisure centres and colleges, as well as information in supermarkets, council receptions and on the council website.

E-mails will be sent to People's Voice participants, with possible street surveys if the council resources are available.