Future of 80 year old building outlined
High Street Lib Dem Councillors, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan, recently received a briefing from the owners of the former EMD cinema, UK Church of God (UKCG), outlining their vision for this historic building.
Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan listened intently whilst representatives of the UKCG outlined their Granada Conference Rooms proposals.
UKCG have plans for a 250 seat auditorium which could have dual purpose for theatre productions, conferences and cinema screening, two meeting rooms and a gallery all on the upper level.
The entrance lobby and pub would be transformed into a cafe, carpet shop converted to training rooms with a youth club above.
The main auditorium would be restored to its former glory and used by the Church.
Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan gave a cautious welcome to the proposals saying:
“This building has served the community of Walthamstow for the last 80 years and must continue to do so. We will work to ensure the promises of community access are honoured.”
UKCG hope to submit a planning application in the near future.
Picture by Roy Tillett and reproduced by kind permission of Yellow Advertiser
3 Comments
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Ridiculous! As has been said elsewhere, local people want the building reinstated as a CINEMA. The idea of UCKG using the building as a church has been comprehensively rejected - both by local people and the local council.
UCKG proposed the same such ’shared use’ compromise for their building in Catford. Planning permission was given to them on this basis, after which their promises amounted to nothing, and the building is now used entirely as a church. Are you so naive as to think the situation in Walthamstow would be any different?
It seems obvious that the whole sorry business is only being discussed on the basis of electoral expediency.
Well, I certainly will NOT be voting for any councillor who takes part in such a craven capitulation.
“It seems obvious that the whole sorry business is only being discussed on the basis of electoral expediency.”
Could you explain that a bit more John? As far as I can tell this is a political hot potato - anyone trying to discuss it or seek a solution is at great risk of upsetting people such as yourself. Political expediency would be to do nothing and hope the problem goes away, which is ,of course, what the rest of the council have been doing for years. Have you seen a single word uttered on the question by the Labour councillor for this ward, Mr Ali? I haven’t. He’s just keeping his head down hoping the ‘problem’ will go away.
Please please please push to keep this as a cinema, the council should be stronger and fight more for what the people of waltham forest want!!!
The council has spent lots of money (tax payers money) on consultations and all have come up with the same answer - people want a cinema! Please represent us and fight for a cinema not this mixed useage which would see 2 other businesses closed down and more jobs lots.