North West Leicestershire District Council leader Cllr Richard Blunt says he will not rush through a decision on Coalville's new cinema in time for next May's local government elections.

Two sites in Coalville have been advertised as potential locations for a new leisure venue in the town centre.

This week's Full Council meeting in Coalville heard Cllr Blunt say that steady progress has been made.

He said that the former indoor market and land currently being occupied by District Council offices are the areas that are being offered.

It had been thought that the indoor market was being readied as a new station for the town if the railway line is re-opened.

But Cllr Blunt was quizzed by Cllr Michael Wyatt as to when he would announce a decision on the promised new cinema.

Cllr Wyatt said: "Can I ask the leader if there is any update on the proposed cinema you promised us?

"Time is running out very quickly.

"I'd like to point out that my popcorn is nearly up to its 'use by' date - just like your administration.

"So I would like an answer.

"Is it going to be delivered before May, as promised?"

Cllr Blunt responded: "Cllr Wyatt, if you'd like to provide a leaflet where I said I'd promise it before May, please produce it.

"Being serious - in terms of grown-ups - we have put an advert in Estates Gazette this week, offering the site next door and the old indoor market, to the open market looking for expressions of interest for leisure.

The former Coalville indoor market is a potential site for the town's proposed new cinema. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

"That is the process we have to go through.

"Once we get those responses back, both sites, potentially, are suitable for a cinema.

"We will talk to those people when they come to us, then I come to Cabinet and then Council.

"But we have credible people who want to run cinemas, people tell us a cinema will survive and thrive in Coalville.

"We have two sites we can put into the mix to solve the financing gap.

"I'm as comfortable as anyone can be."

But Cllr Blunt added the cinema was not a box-ticking exercise to be announced before next year's elections.

He insisted: "My job is to do what's best for the district - until the day I'm no longer a councillor.

"Not to get everything done by May and tick a box.

"If I were looking for votes, I might design things for that day.

"This is something that gets done before or after May - and gets done properly.

"Whoever's in power after May will reap the benefits.

"We're not just interested in winning elections, we want to do the right thing."