Fighting For The Future of The EMD: Neil And Stella Call For Public Meeting

As an active participant in the campaign to save the EMD cinema back in 2003, you might expect me to have strong views on its future. It's also why I'm hoping Cllr James O'Rourke has done his homework before giving his support to plans put forward by the UCKG to reapply for planning permission to turn the building into a church. On his blog he outlines their intention to resubmit plans for how they want to use this building - which judging by his description alone sound little different to the original proposals they submitted. 

Like many local people I'm keen to see cinema brought back to Walthamstow - and also to see this important Walthamstow landmark building really is open for the use of all the local community. The ownership of the building by the United Church of the Kingdom of God means we are at their mercy in finding a way forward. However, my investigations into quite what community involvement meant in practice in Catford and Finsbury Park as well as the details that came out during the original planning application show we as local residents have grounds to be concerned about this turn of events. If the UCKG are serious about contributing to Walthamstow's social fabric we need to see explicit guarantees built into the planning agreement that will ensure the theatre and film screen they propose are open for hire on a regular basis to people of all faiths and for all forms of entertainment without threat of censure. 

So unlike James I cannot welcome these developments because at present we have few details to judge whether the UCKG's plans really would work for Walthamstow. And I know many local people who were also involved in the campaign to save the EMD feel the same way too. We need answers urgently. That's why Neil Gerrard and I are asking them to agree to a public meeting with local residents to discuss their plans and quite what their intentions are for this prized building ahead of any new activity at the site. If you would be interested in attending such a meeting please email me with the word "EMD" in the title so I can judge the size of venue we'd require.