Odeon: defending regeneration

Yesterday this newsblog reported on the debate now underway on the future of the Odeon building. Today there is a letter in The Scotsman from Euan Leitch of the Architectural Society of Scotland giving reasons for suggesting the premisies are no longer viable as a cinema and we must move on. Here is the text:
In your report on proposals to alter the former Odeon on Edinburgh's South Clerk Street (17 April), our reasons for supporting the proposals were not reported.
If the City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Scotland had appreciated the historic significance of the building they would have prevented the subdivision of the main auditorium in 1982. The creation of a cinema complex in Greenside Place further deprived the Odeon of its audience, ensuring its demise, which the council should have foreseen.
It is unlikely that a 2008-seat cinema could be sustained, and the continued use of the Dominion, Cameo and Filmhouse is more important than providing them with another competitor. Its potential use for late-night events is also thwarted by the council's stance on licensing, and the local community's desire to prevent anti-social behaviour.
The current application from Make architects is of a high quality and could have a significant regenerative impact on the area and it would be unfortunate for this opportunity to be lost. Euan Leitch, Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.