Mr Rendel launched a belated attempt to give councils power to preserve older cinemas, especially in rural areas, last month. But his backbench Bill will not become law, as there's not enough time in this year's Parliament.

He said: "The dominance of the multiplex has resulted in what is often a more sterile, individualised film-going experience."

The first multiplex appeared in Milton Keynes 20 years ago, but the format now accounts for 71% of cinema viewing, and smaller cinema operators have found it hard to compete.

Mr Rendel said: "The problem is that it is the smaller cinemas that tend to serve the rural communities. Their closure has resulted in a serious problem of access in many small towns and rural areas."

Five years ago in Newbury, plans to turn the Park Way cinema - now LA Fitness - into a multiplex were rejected by local councillors, because of parking fears.

So the developer brought in a gym operator instead, despite the council spending £100,000 of taxpayers' cash on fighting a doomed court action to keep the site for cinema use.

Mr Rendel backed a multiplex for Newbury when he chaired a cross-party cinema task force, just months before being re-elected.

Last month, West Berkshire Council approved plans for an £8 million multiplex next to the Kennet Centre, despite widespread outrage at the Lib Dems' policy to give £350,000 to the operator, Apollo Cinemas.