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Belfast City Council hopes to complete sale for big screen early in 2017

Films popular with cinema-goers around the time of the First World War and shown on the big screen at the city hall as part of a series of events to mark the centenary of its outbreak in 1914. Picture by Cliff Donaldson 
Films popular with cinema-goers around the time of the First World War and shown on the big screen at the city hall as part of a series of events to mark the centenary of its outbreak in 1914. Picture by Cliff Donaldson  Films popular with cinema-goers around the time of the First World War and shown on the big screen at the city hall as part of a series of events to mark the centenary of its outbreak in 1914. Picture by Cliff Donaldson 

BELFAST City Council hopes to have the sale of its iconic big screen completed before the end of January.

Councillors voted last month to remove 'Belfast's Live Site' , housed within the grounds of City Hall after essential maintenance work, estimated at £120,000 was deemed too costly.

They also questioned whether the screen was drawing enough people to the City Hall grounds to merit a further outlay.

The big screen has been at City Hall since June 2011 as a legacy of the 2012 London Olympics, but has now been advertised for sale.

The 25m² LED screen is approximately 7m wide, 3.5m high and is raised 4m above ground level.

According to the council no price has been set for the screen, which has an annual budget of £27,250, but they would like the sale completed by the end of January 2017.

"We’re now seeking expressions of interest from companies or individuals interested in purchasing the screen," a council spokesman said.

"It should be noted that the successful contractors will be responsible for the removal of the Big Screen and all its related costs, including transportation and insurance. In addition, our preference is for this to have been completed by 31 January 2017."

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Monday, December 2016.

Whether a sale will be agreed by January is unclear, but the screen will definitely be gone by 2019, when its temporary planning permit expires.