September 2009 Archives

Local community campaigner Stella Creasy today urged her political opponents to join her, local residents and the Mcguffin Film Society in asking Waltham Forest's Planning Committee to reject the UCKG's planning application to convert the EMD cinema. Speaking about the campaign she said:

"As a long standing supporter of the campaign to Save Walthamstow's Cinema I hope by being so public about my views I can encourage my opponents to finally speak up on this key issue for Walthamstow's Town Centre. We all respect the role that councillors play in planning matters, and the importance of encouraging local people to participate in this democratic process by making their views known. Walthamstow needs a cinema and it needs the jobs a night time economy would bring - I hope many local residents will like me write in to express their views on this matter and that my opponents recognise now is the time to speak up as this issue is determined"

Stella has written to all those who have declared they propose to stand in Walthamstow at the next general election with a copy of her letter of objection to the application to help explain the issue. The local authority has now extended the deadline for submissions of objections to Friday 25 September 2009.  Neil Gerrard MP, has also publicly stated his objections to the proposal.

Notes

• Stella first joined the campaign to save the EMD when a councillor in 2003 and continues to work with Neil Gerrard MP and local campaigners on this issue.
• Stella is the Labour Candidate for Walthamstow at the next election, when Neil Gerrard MP will retire.
  
• Stella has written to Farid Ahmed, Liberal Democrat candidate, Cllr Andy Hemsted, Conservative Candidate for Walthamstow, Sarah Cope, Green Party Candidate for Walthamstow and Paul Warburton, Independent Candidate for Walthamstow to ask them to make public their views on this matter.
• This campaign refers to the planning application 2009/1048 & 2009/1049/LB for the EMD Cinema at 186 Hoe Street, The Victoria Public House and 186A/186B Hoe Street, E17.
• A copy of both Stella's correspondence with candidates and letter of objection are available on request.
  

Many readers will know of my long time interest and involvement in fighting for the future of the EMD cinema on Hoe Street. This campaign started back in 2003 following proposals by the current owners the United Church of the Kingdom of God to convert the building into a place of worship. I have always believed that this landmark building is a key venue in our town centre, an area that needs places and spaces for the development of an evening economy which is critical to bringing new jobs and spending to our local area.

Following their unsuccessful attempt to do so in 2003, the UCKG have now submitted a further application for planning permission to convert the building into a church. Having viewed this new application I believe it should be refused because it will not contribute to the regeneration of Walthamstow. Whilst the UCKG state within their application that their facility would offer a boost to the local night time economy, they provide no data or independent evidence to support this argument. Indeed, whether the Rainbow at Finsbury Park or the former ABC cinema in Catford, we have seen in other parts of London that converting premises into UCKG Help Centres offers little to benefit to the social and economic prosperity of a local area.

The decision as to whether to give permission for this development rests with the local authority planning committee - that is why I will be writing to them to ask them to reject these proposals. If you wish to find out more about alternative uses which would be more likely to contribute to the economic and social regeneration of Walthamstow's Town Centre, including the independent cinema operator seeking to buy the building, you may wish to join me at the McGuffins Day of Action at the Rose and Crown Pub on Sunday 13 September. It will start at 3pm, include films suitable for all the family and will include a special guest appearance from Ed Tudor Pole, star of The Crystal Maze. For more details visit this website.