Placing cinema blame on uncertainty (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Placing cinema blame on uncertainty

2:00pm Thursday 23rd November 2006 in News By Guardian-series

THE former EMD cinema is no longer for sale, with its owners citing uncertainty over the Arcade site as a reason.

The Grade II listed building adjoins the controversial Arcade site in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, and has been taken off the market by owners the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) until the council unveils "a definitive firm strategy to cater for cinema goers in Walthamstow".

Cabinet members agreed to sell the freehold for the Arcade site on Tuesday.

Member for enterprise and investment, Cllr Terry Wheeler, said that he hoped that the sale of the Arcade site without any requirement to build a cinema there would provide an opportunity for something to happen to the EMD.

And speaking after the meeting, council leader Cllr Clyde Loakes said: "Tonight we have set the record straight. The people who own the EMD will be able to make firm decisions.

"This will be something that encourages someone to take over the EMD. It will allow people to see that this development makes it a smarter part of the town centre that will encourage people to come round the corner to a cinema there."

However, the decision to sell the Arcade site may not constitute a definitive strategy for cinema in the eyes of the UCKG.

The church's property director, Pastor Paul Hill, said the collapse of the partnership between the council and its previous preferred developers, Henry Boot, had caused "a massive stumbling block on all ongoing negotiations.

"The church is determined to find a solution and would like again to formally request the council puts and end to speculation and outline a definitive and firm strategy for cinema-goers in Walthamstow."

He said the church would look again at the sale early next year and added that he wanted to assure local residents that the building was being looked after while it was empty.

Cllr Loakes quashed hopes that the council might buy the EMD with a compulsory purchase order so that it can be sold along with the Arcade site, simply saying: "There is no reason on earth why the council should be a cinema operator."