The four cinema rooms operated by the exhibitor Cineplace in the La Vie shopping centre "had little audience for what the operator considered a profitable operation, and the centre's administration had already informed the council that there was a strong possibility of closure," the mayor of Caldas da Rainha, Vitor Marques, told the Lusa news agency.

The decision, which left that city in the Leiria district "without any commercial cinemas," led the municipality to "try to find out from the La Vie administration if any solution is foreseen to create alternatives so that the public does not have to travel to other municipalities to watch commercial films."

According to the mayor, "La Vie's management has informed us that it is developing contacts with other exhibitors who may come to operate the theatres," admitting that "the space, which is very large, could be renovated and reduced to just two cinema rooms"

Vítor Marques added, however, that "no estimate has been given of when this might become a reality."

The Lusa news agency requested clarification from the management of La Vie, but received no response in a timely manner.

In a statement released, the management had announced that the cinema was closed, for the purpose of a Special Revitalisation Plan presented by the exhibitor.

In the statement, La Vie affirmed "its commitment to continue working on enhancing the shopping centre's offerings, currently studying new solutions and concepts that can meet the expectations of the local community and contribute to the revitalisation of the city of Caldas da Rainha and the region."

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