Express & Star comment: Light House facing battle for survival

It is common knowledge that the Black Country’s only independent cinema has struggled to make ends meet in recent years.

And times have been particularly tough since the charity lost its council grant during a wave of local authority budget cuts in 2015.

But the situation is now approaching crisis point, with the venue on the brink of closure unless a funding shortfall is urgently addressed.

This is a tragic situation that should concern everyone in the city and the wider region regardless of whether or not they use the facility.

The Light House provides a fantastic service for film buffs from its Chubb Buildings base, offering an eclectic range of independent films that are often not available at any of the local multiplexes. For the community, it is far more than just a cinema.

It is a meeting spot, an exhibition venue and a place of education where people can receive high level training in many aspects of technologically-based media, including film, video and photography.

Over the years it has opened up a new world for thousands of visitors. For some of them, it has served as a lifeline.

The threat against its future is very real, and quite simply, if the latest fundraising drive is not successful then we could lose the Light House for good. Bosses are now calling on local businesses to help the cause by chipping in, but we can all do our bit.

The people of the Black Country and Staffordshire have shown time and time again that their generosity knows no bounds.

With the situation becoming desperate for the Light House, that collective spirit is certainly needed now.

Hopefully businesses from across the region will come to the rescue and take up some of the sponsorship packages that are on offer.

But we can all do our bit, even if that means simply attending a film or contributing towards an exhibition.

The Light House has become a vital part of the fabric of the city. We must fight to ensure it is saved.