Local Liberal Democrat councillors have met for a second time with the UK’s largest independent cinema operators to discuss the historic former EMD building in Walthamstow – on the same day that the Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration appeared to dash resident’s hopes that the venue would ever be restored as a cinema.
Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of City Screen – the owner of Stratford’s popular Picture House cinema – met at Waltham Forest Town Hall with the borough’s Chief Executive Andrew Kilburn, Liberal Democrat group Leader John Macklin and High St councillor James O’Rourke to discuss previous Council-commissioned reports which made the business case for a 5-screen cinema on the EMD site.
The building is owned by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), but recent comments from the UCKG have seemed to suggest that the Church would consider moving if an offer was made for the building.
Cllr O’Rourke said that the meeting with City Screen had been organised in order to ensure all parties could “hear another perspective” on claims that the site was not viable as a cinema.
However, just hours later Council portfolio holder Terry Wheeler appeared to strongly rule out any future for the building as a cinema. (Click here to read the Waltham Forest Guardian’s report on Cllr Wheeler’s comments)
Local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin, who was in attendance at the meeting with City Screen, said:
“I have met with UCKG representatives and very much welcome the efforts they have made to begin engaging with residents and councillors. Of course I recognise the legal restrictions which are associated with planning law and respect the UCKG’s position as owners of the site.
“Yet it is completely wrong for the Council – which is led on this issue by Cllr Wheeler – to be seen to be so completely dismissive of the apparent strength of public opinion on this matter. It is the misinformation and manoeuvring that has taken place over a number of years that has fed such confusion and dismay amongst residents.
“Conflicting reports over the viability of the site as a cinema, false promises of Council action and meetings held behind closed doors have all led to an environment of distrust and anger.
“As I have said before, it is simply not good enough to appear to just tell Walthamstow residents what they want in their area.”
Council please note. Respect our heritage. Give us back our cinema.
Cll Wheeler is totally irresponsible (not to mention all the empty promises over the years) what’s he still doing here.
What is really going on here…?
Let the church have the cinema and you’ll really run this place to the ground and you can forget about regeneration.
People want this cinema/this massive asset restored/modernised for all to enjoy- A place that could be the catalyst for the regeneration of this area. A massive asset .
Council: You have a big responsibility here: Are you going to make or break this area Its time to stand up! Make sure you all act before too late!
Oh come on! The cinema was there all along and nobody cared for it, nobody attended it! Now that a buyer got it and is willing to turn it into something, you make a big deal about it becoming a cinema again!!!?????????? THINK, stop making a big fuss about things you normally don’t even care! I prefer that this dark building becomes something rather than staying there for another decade waiting for people like you to finally come to its senses!
Congratulation to Terry Wheeler who courageously spoke what everyone with common sense thinks about the EMD. Cllr Wheeler, pre-empting a planning decision, said the new church and community centre will be “more attractive, to particularly young people, than a modified cinema”.
He said: “The only proposal I know will work is the UCKG church, they will restore it. What is the point in keeping this building full of dark and dingy spaces?”
You see, one doesn’t need half brain to understand his statement. Only obscured minds such liked the ones of McGuffin fueled by an once-upon-a-time name, pride and anger can’t understand that. I guess the case is pretty much settled. Let’s see the new EMD been restored to its glory by the guys who know how. Thumbs up UCKG!
I am completely baffled by the last two comments. We have no cinemas in Waltham Forest. There are many churches for people to go to if they want. So surely restoring an extremely attractive and architecturally valuable cinema for the cultural use of everyone is for all our benefits? One of the things I personally regret in moving to this area is the fact that there is no cinema or, indeed, much to do in the evenings apart from a few decent pubs.
As for no one going to the cinema, if that was the case it was only because it had become so run down, was only able to show second-run films, and so on.
And why do the McGuffins have obscured minds (whatever that means)? They have been campaigning for years that this cinema be reopened.
I wonder if the second two commenters are connected with the UCKG?
The last two comments are spam, they are posted by the same person and by someone who spends lots of time on Waltham Forest Guardian’s website under the guise of Fresh Gravee/Claridger and various other names posting negative comments. He or she usually tries to be contraversial and for some reason has a personal vendetta against the McGuffin film society.
Cllr Macklin, I suggest you put some more security features in place to stop spam, or maybe reveail the identity of Fresh Gravee/Claridger once and for all?
I’m no expert but – ass this building is grade II listed, I wonder if conversion into a church would not alter its integral character considerably. Restoration so that it’s original function could be fulfilled seems to be less likely to do that. Presumably, however, this is something the planning people will take into account whatever happens. One would hope anyway.
I’m relatively new in Walthamtow, and with a young child have not really had much need of a cinema yet. However, he is growing up and I would love the opportunity to take him to a film locally. I would much rather take him to a reasonably sized, attractive place with some atmosphere just a short bus ride away than to some faceless, souless, overwhelming multiplex somewhere. I would have thought that as a ‘host borough’ for the pending Olympics it would make absolute sense for Waltham Forest to invest in its fast disappearing heritage so that the odd tourist might just come our way and spend some cash. Some people have heard of Alfred Hitchcock, you know!
To lose a grade II listed cinema with such a unique heritage attached seems careless in the extreme.