News: March 2009 Archives

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" ; "Ian Ansell" ; "Jon Price" ; "Maree Sargent" ; "Sam Neal"
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