A POPULAR mobile cinema's trips to Cumbrae have been stopped due to access issues.
The operators of the Screen Machine have revealed that the island is one of seven locations across remote and rural Scotland that won't be visited by their new cinema vehicle.
The hugely popular Screen Machine has brought Star Wars, Top Gun and many more classic movies to Cumbrae on its travels around the Highlands and Islands.
The cinema Screen Machine is an 80-seat air-conditioned, digital mobile cinema service that has been bringing the latest films to over 40 communities of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland since 1998.
It is owned and operated by Regional Screen Scotland (RSS), a company limited by guarantee with charitable status which aims to enable more people in more places to share great screen experiences.
However, RSS have revealed that they have now had to secure the lease of a French Cinémobile vehicle, following a series of mechanical issues with the current ageing Screen Machine - and that the new mobile cinema cannot properly access the island.
A spokesperson for The Screen Machine said there are seven locations across Scotland that the Cinémobile will be unable to reach.
The new vehicle has slightly different designs and dimensions to the one it is replacing, meaning it will be unable to use certain piers and roads.
In addition to Cumbrae, the Cinémobile will not be able to access the west coast islands of Gigha, Jura, Eigg and Raasay, or the Orkney islands of Rousay and Shapinsay.
A spokesperson for the Screen Machine said: "If you live in one of these locations, please understand that we are very sorry for any disappointment that this news brings.
"We are talking to groups and individuals about what, if any, screenings we can help to bring to your community during the coming year, and will keep you up-to-date with progress."
Hazel Wotherspoon, chief executive officer of RSS, said that the lease of the French cinemobile has secured the future of screenings in a number of islands and other remote locations around the country - but unfortunately not in Millport.
She said: "We are immensely grateful to Screen Scotland for demonstrating support for Regional Screen Scotland and the much-loved Screen Machine by funding the fee to lease the Cinémobile, and for pledging their support as we work towards the development of the new screen machine.
"The Screen Machine has been bringing joy to the Highlands and Islands for 25 years, and we are delighted, following the issues that we have had with screen machine over the winter, to share the news that the service is secure for the year ahead."
Largs Community Council recently discussed the possibility of trying to bring the Screen Machine to Largs.
RSS is funded by Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
An independent study carried out in 2019 found that the Screen Machine operation displaced three times as much carbon as its operation produced, because of the number of audience members who did not have to drive long distances to see the latest films.
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