Entries tagged with “EMD Cinema” from Working For Walthamstow
"Hi
Stella, If I
may give you an overview of the UCKG HelpCentre's 2009 Christmas Carols appeal,
it should answer most of your questions. We are very happy for you to pass this
on in full. This
is the first time that UCKG has undertaken a large scale licensed street collection
in London, and
it has been both fruitful and a valuable learning experience. To
start with the necessary licences were sought through the Met Police and granted for London wide collections
during the period 1 - 24 December. This means having to guarantee that
you are able to collect in at least 20 of the 32 London boroughs. In addition some licences were obtained for mostly small scale collections in towns and
cities outside London
where UCKG has branches. Different rules apply in each location, and I suggest
that we do not need to go into these as the bulk of activity was in London. Nationwide,
UCKG fielded a total of 2,194 registered volunteer fundraisers, drawn from its
church members (obviously they were not all on the streets at once). A generous
public and help from various organisations that
allowed them to collect on private premises enabled them to raise just under
£404,000. I can advise you that funds collected are designated to help in
supporting community services at the 22 full time UCKG HelpCentre branches in
the UK
and for maintenance of the buildings. Two
projects that will be supported heavily are the 24 hour telephone Helpline [call:
0207 686 6000] and the completion of a new Youth Centre in Peckham, south London. There are notes
on both of these activities at the end of this email, which you may like to
share with people who ask you about the UCKG's work. As
regards the two young girls you encountered, we can only apologise most sincerely, if they - or any other UCKG collectors -
behaved badly. There were a lot of collections going on in London over the 2009 pre-Christmas period and
unfortunately UCKG is aware of instances where its collectors were also treated
to rudeness in what may at times have been overly competitive and stressful environments.
A full review of the collectors' feedback is under way so that UCKG may
learn from them and take appropriate action. Other post-collection work
currently in progress includes the calculation of expenses and preparation of
accounts. Supporting the UCKG Helpline UCKG
community services that will benefit from the fund raising include our 24 hour
Helpline, which dealt with over 7,400 enquiries in 2009. In December 797 calls
were mostly about depression, however the Helpline regularly responses to a
wide range of concerns about family and marriage problems, illnesses, financial,
career, faith and immigration difficulties. As appropriate we provide support
and advice, or refer callers to a range of specialist charities and organisations including some who help with homelessness. An ambitious development programme Funds
will also go towards upgrading UCKG HelpCentres so that they better serve their
local communities. A top priority is the HelpCentre in Rye Lane, Peckham and the immediate task
there is to complete the long awaited Youth Centre that will focus on training,
academic excellence, and life skills for young men and women aged 14 - 25. The
Peckham branch of the church's Victory Youth Group will operate from this
new Youth Centre. It has an excellent track record in helping young people, including
former offenders, and giving them a new outlook so they become law abiding
citizens, eager to contribute to the life of the community. Kind
regards, Jenny
Jenny Walton
Director (Public Relations)
D: +44 (0) 1962 893 907
T: +44 (0) 1962 893 893
http://www.remarkablegroup.co.
Please note that despite earlier indications from the local authority, there is no further news as to when the UCKG application to convert the EMD into a church will be heard at a planning meeting. This is despite the deadline for objections being over three months ago in September 2009. I will continue to update this site with any further information on this issue I receive.
"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.
I have written to the church to enquire as to why this exhibition is only on for two days and in a venue some considerable distance from the EMD/Granada building and during a period when people will be away on Easter breaks. If you are able to attend the meeting and record your comments, whether as a note or a video clip, please let me know.
Fighting for the Future of the EMD meeting 29 March 2009.pdf
I've had no word from the Church yet as to when the 'exhibition' they propose will start but will of course keep you all updated as and when I get further information. In the meantime feel free to circulate these minutes and encourage others to sign up for updates on this issue by emailing me. Furthermore, for the technically minded of you, I have now set up a twitter #tag which can be found on #walthamstowEMD and there is also a facebook group which can be found here.
I'm going to post below a number of emails and documents relating to the future of the EMD that I have been sent. Apologies in advance if the formatting is difficult to read.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Seamus Lalor"
To:
Cc: "Anne Byrne"
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 2:42 PM
Subject: EMD Cinema
Dear Mr Martin
Thank you for your e mail dated 22 March 2009 regarding the EMD Cinema
which has been passed to me for attention.
The plans which are currently on display form part of a pre application
discussion with this Council and a response is currently being framed.
UCKG have advised that a formal planning application is likely to be
submitted within a month. During that month it is likely that
additional information will be prepared for submission and the plans may
have altered. However, when that finalised application is submitted
there will be a further opportunity for the public to submit
representations which will be assessed as part of that application.
Your current e mail will however be retained for consideration.
It is intended that the local community will have access to parts of
the building and the attached pre application summary has been submitted
as part of the pre application submission as a statement of intention.
It is certainly the applicants intention to retain and renovate this
important listed building which is now on the English Heritage
"Buildings at Risk Register". It is clear that it is not in the best
interests of the Town Centre for the building to remain disused and fall
into further decay which is one of the reasons why the current
proposals, which differ from those submitted in 2003, must be given
careful consideration when the application is submitted. Part of this
assessment will be traffic and pedestrian impact as outlined in your e
mail.
The Council is statutorily obliged to respond to any application
submitted for the building but cannot impose the inclusion of a cinema
in the development proposals as the Council has no legal interest in the
site. A planning application considers the uses to which the building
will be put but the existing or proposed owner has no relevance to the
consideration of the land use issues. Any planning decision rests with
the land and not any individual or organisation as this would be
discriminatory. The applicant has stated that it is uneconomic to
restore the building as a cinema venue but that there would be the
opportunity to show film in one of the converted spaces, but this would
be ancillary to other uses. However, plans for the adjoining Arcade
site are progressing and presently intend the inclusion of a cinema
which will be accessible for all sections of the community. It is also
intended to create a leisure centre (including two swimming pools), some
small retail units and residential uses. An application is anticipated
over the summer.
I trust that I have responded to the points raised at this stage but
please look at the final plans when submitted and let me have any
further observations you would like to be considered as part of the
applications assessment and eventual consideration by the Council's
Planning Committee.
Yours sincerely
Séamus Lalor
Interim Head of Development Management
Development Management
Environment and Regeneration
Waltham Forest Council
GO4 Sycamore House
London E17 4JF
Tel: 020 8496 6700
Fax: 020 8496 6902
Dear Stella,
In response to your emails, I regret that I must decline your invitation to participate in a public meeting on March 29 as we simply do not have the resources to send anyone along. All of UCKG's senior management team have long standing engagements for that day, which were arranged many months ago as part of our ongoing pastoral work.
As I advised back in February, when you first mooted the idea of a public meeting, "we are fully committed to communicating widely with the community and stakeholders as soon as possible, and will provide opportunities for local people to question our development team and receive individual answers."
I am expecting to finalise details of a prime opportunity for information sharing within the next few days, with confirmation of the date of our upcoming public exhibition.
We believe that this format is preferable to a public meeting because it enables all attendees to receive individual attention from the professional team without having to stand up and speak in public. That way the more retiring members of the community will be heard equally with those who are most articulate, which we believe to be both fair and democratic.
While we appreciate that you did not want an advance briefing on our plans, we would still welcome you to the exhibition.
I enclose a statement from the UCKG HelpCentre to be read in full at the meeting.
Yours in Prayer
090327 _ Public Meeting Statement.pdf---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: stella creasy <stella@workingforwalthamstow.
Date: Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17
To: Pr Paul Hill <pph@uckg.org>
Cc: Neil Gerrard <gerrardn@parliament.uk>, Terry Wheeler <cllr.terry.wheeler@
Dear Paul,
Thank you for your email and for setting out your intention to engage with the community. I think it is important for me to be clear about my requests and my interest in this matter and to state that I would have to decline an offer of an an individual briefing on this matter. Given the interest in the future of the EMD cinema building, I believe it is vital any discussions are open to as many local residents so I would prefer to equally participate in a public meeting along with other local residents. Therefore if you are available to come to Walthamstow to give such a briefing I would urge you to use the time this would take to accept the offer as made by Neil Gerrard to chair a public discussion on your plans that could be open to all interested parties. Indeed, as I appreciate how much work goes into a planning application I believe you may find it useful to have such a discussion early on in your project planning so that you could gather feedback from local residents and ideas for how best to use this much loved local landmark. My experience of working with local residents in Walthamstow shows that they can often challenge and inspire in ways which bring fresh and valuable insight and ideas to any project!
I look forward to hearing from you as to whether you will accept the offer, even in only in principle, of such a public meeting as chaired by Neil Gerrard. I will as you request pass on your views to the local community and would of course be happy to help with identifying dates, venues and times for such a public meeting as and when appropriate in the planning process.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course,
kind regards
Stella
On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM, Pr Paul Hill <pph@uckg.org> wrote:
Dear Stella
It concerns me that you appear to be making assumptions about the content of our ongoing public engagement programme.
In acknowledging your email I wanted you to appreciate that you, Neil Gerrard MP and the constituents of Walthamstow are important to us.
As I said, it is our intention to offer you and Mr Gerrard an individual briefing at the first possible opportunity within a wide ranging consultation programme that started with the recent informal meeting with Waltham Forest Council members and officers.
For the interim, I would advise that we are fully committed to communicating widely with the community and stakeholders as soon as possible, and will provide opportunities for local people to understand our proposals, question our development team and receive individual answers.
As regards timing, I'm sure you will appreciate that there is a lot of work in preparing and drafting a planning application to the stage where it is ready for public consultation. We are working on proposals that will deliver a range of high quality facilities for the community including performance space as reported in the local media, within a fully restored Art Deco building. The UCKG HelpCentre is strong on community outreach and conservation as demonstrated by the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park.
If you wish to update the people who have contacted you with the content of this email, please do so. For our part, we will contact you about a briefing date within the next few weeks.
Should you have any further questions in the mean time, please feel free to call me on the number below. Alternatively, you are always welcome to speak to Matthew Turpin, a member of the project team, on 07887 846 699.
Yours in Prayer
Property Acquisitions Manager
d +44 20 7686 6006 ext 6108 | f +44 20 7686 6035 | m +44 7595 511 291
a UCKG Office Suites 24 Coleridge Road Finsbury Park London N4 3NP
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.
Amongst its many great contributions to public life, Walthamstow has played a key role in the development of the British film industry. You can learn more about this at the free one-day film festival which is being run by the McGuffins's this Saturday, the 5th January 2008 at the Victoria Bar, 186 Hoe Street (adjacent to the EMD Cinema). This event will also commemorate five years since the closure of the EMD Cinema and celebrate the contributions to film made by the people of Waltham Forest. There will be a quick photocall outside the cinema at 5pm and festival will start at 5.30pm. The bill includes a documentary on the EMD "A Cinema Near You", a look at the role of Walthamstow in the development of the film industry "Hollywood E17"; Alfred Hitchcock's "Number Seventeen", a biopic on William Morris called "News from Nowhere" staring Timothy West and "It was an Accident" a gritty urban black comedy starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and James Bolam filmed almost entirely on location around Waltham Forest. Further details about this event and the McGuffins group can be found at the McGuffin website: www.mcguffin.info.
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