Cinema owner’s keep out plea after break-in

A DEVELOPER working on the former Dumfries cinema site has responded to a social media video, which appears to show young people breaking into the former Regal building.

Tristan Campbell said that the TikTok video, which amassed almost 10,000 views, did not reflect the reality that the former Regal building is currently undergoing extensive electrical work.

The people behind the video had described the building as an ‘abandoned’ site.

The developer said the incident was ‘frustrating’, and posed a number of safety risks. Such incidents, the de- veloper says, could impact plans to reopen the building:

“It doesn’t do anything to advance the project, if anything it delays it,” Mr Campbell said.

CCTV footage from the incident, which is believed to have taken place in the past fortnight, is currently under review.

Mr Campbell said that public awareness and action could help to protect the building, as he has asked the public to report anything suspicious to the police.

Site owners Buzz Bingo said the security company for the building has secured the entrance door and screens, which had been damaged previously.

The cinema on Shakespeare Street in Dumfries originally opened as ‘The Regal’ in 1931.

Buzz Bingo state the building is monitored with an active alarm system and patrolled by security officers on a regular basis.