Local Lib Dems in Meeting Over Cinema Viability
Local Liberal Democrat councillors have met with one of the UK’s largest cinema regeneration operators to discuss possibilities for the historic former EMD cinema in Walthamstow.
High St councillor Cllr James O’Rourke met with representatives of City Screen at the Town Hall after the company expressed an ongoing interest in the building on Hoe Street. City Screen, which was formed in 1989 to “challenge the multiplex cinema model and provide cinemas in city centre locations”, have been responsible for a series of cinema regenerations and new build facilities across the country, including the Clapham Picturehouse and The Ritzy in Brixton.
At the meeting Lyn Goleby, the Managing Director of City Screen, suggested that with the right funding package the site was still viable as a cinema, highlighting earlier reports paid for by the Council that made the business case for a 5-screen cinema on the EMD site.
Lyn Goleby said:
“Our previous work has shown clearly that the redevelopment of historic cinema buildings, such as the former EMD in Walthamstow, can act as an organic catalyst for wider regeneration.
“These projects attract other businesses to the area and really stimulate the night time economy.”
Noting recent conjecture over the usage of the building, Lyn Goleby highlighted City Screen’s investment in cinema regeneration projects such as the former EMD, suggesting that such private operator funding, complimented by other investment or grant opportunities, remained the best way to proceed financially in these instances.
After the meeting, Cllr James O’Rourke said:
“I welcome the fact that UCKG representatives met with ward councillors and made some effort to display their plans to local residents. They will obviously have heard the many concerns expressed regarding the usage of the building.
“I am always keen to hear people’s thoughts about the site and was pleased to meet with City Screen. It was intriguing to see some of the plans for the building that were drawn up in 2002 at around the same time the EMD cinema originally closed. These appear to confirm that the site could remain a viable proposition as a cinema.
“The use of the building is an issue people are rightly very passionate about, and I was interested to note recent comments from the UCKG which seemed to suggest that they would consider moving if an offer was made.
“If this is the case and as City Screen suggested financial investment could see the site renovated as a 5-screen cinema, I would hope any interested parties would be willing to sit down and talk about it.”
4 Comments
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This is good to hear - I had an email from Martin Esom, Deputy Chief Executive of Waltham Forest, stating:
“Indeed the Council has made it clear we would be delighted to work with any private company or artistic body who have a realistic and robust business case to purchase the EMD cinema and bringing it back into use. However it must be understood that the way in which people attend the cinema has changed since the EMD was built. Visitors no longer want the option of only one film offer at a set time, but many films at a variety of times to suit them, and hence the large auditorium of the EMD cinema seems not meet the requirements of modern cinema operator. The listed building status of the cinema makes any adaptation to the building difficult to undertake. The UKCG have indicated their willingness to sell the building and have attempted to sell the site on three occasions. We understand that they have failed to find a buyer.”
I’m not sure if Martin speaks for the entire council, but he seems also keen that the cinema remain a cinema or arts venue.
He seems to be saying that as a listed building 3 screens could not be made into 5 - is this not the case?
Could you explain why the UCKG failed to find a buyer for the cinema previously please?
Thanks
If, as has been suggested, UCKG would give up the EMD building if they were offered an alternative site surely this must be pursued. I live around the corner from the Buxton Road building and it seems to me a far more suitable site for the church. There are 3 car parks within close walking distance (I know people were complaining about hoe street getting clogged up) and mission grove has almost no commercial outlets and the building is at least as dilapidated as the cinema. Also if meetings are at the weekend it doesn’t affect the school, and on sundays this end of the market is pretty desolate. It could help this area, not just give us back a cinema.
Katherine
In my meeting with City Screen I was shown documents commissioned by Waltham Forest council which had drawings suggesting the building could accomodate 5 screens. I have asked officers to provide me all documents the council has commissioned in relation to this building.
I cannot explain why the UCKG failed to find a buyer for the cinema. That is a question that needs to be addressed directly to the UCKG.
The large cinema screen housed in the main auditorium gives the only authentic cinema experience that is truly cinematic: films on the pc and even the wide screen at home are reduced in impac: younger audiences need to be re-educated in appreciating the detail and impact of filling nearly the whole of the visual field creatively: whilst retaining the other two smaller screens enables the wide selection of films of a muliplex available.