WALES SCRAPS NEW
STUDIO OBJECTIONS
Copyright 2002 Associated Press
[ October 2nd 2002 ]
The Welsh
Assembly on Tuesday dropped its objections to
plans to build a 300 million-pound (US$450 million)
movie studio complex in a deprived area of south
Wales. A consortium backed by Sir Richard Attenborough
wants to build the ultra-modern complex on 350
acres at Llanilid in south Wales, creating up
to 2,000 jobs.
The complex,
dubbed the "Welsh Hollywood," will also include
an international film academy and movie-based
leisure attractions similar to those at Universal
Studies in Hollywood. The Welsh government had
blocked the development because of the need for
a new junction on the M4 highway between England
and Wales, but officials said Tuesday that problem
could be overcome. "The Llanilid film studio is
a unique development and I am very pleased we
have been able to find a way forward which paves
the way for this major investment to become a
reality," said First Minister Rhodri Morgan. Local
councils must now decide whether to approve the
scheme. They have said in the past that they support
the development.
The complex,
to be called Dragon International Studios, will
have the latest facilities for making feature
films, television productions and commercials
with full editing and post-production facilities.
The aim is to capture a share of the global market
in film and television production, as well as
supporting a wide range of small and medium-sized
productions. The facility, which will offer tours
of famous film sets as well as theme park rides,
is expected to attract up to 1.2 million visitors
a year.
The Llanilid
area of south Wales has suffered economically
in recent years and is now classed as one of the
poorest areas in Europe. Welsh culture minister
Jenny Randerson said the development would be
a real boost to the film industry in Wales. "The
Wales Screen Commission in particular has been
working with film production companies, such as
Paramount Pictures recently for Tomb Raider 2,
helping them secure locations in Wales and sourcing
their requirements locally. This new development
could further that success," she added.
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