AN influential community group will meet tonight (Thursday) to discuss the latest threat to an historic former cinema.

Members of The Wanstead Society are set to decide on a response to a fresh plan to demolish the old Kinema building in the High Street and replace it with a block of eight flats and a restaurant.

The latest proposal comes just months after a previous application was turned down by Redbridge Council in November last year on the grounds that the demolition was 'unjustified' and that the new design would not preserve or enhance the surrounding conservation area.

The current twin-gabled building dates back to the late 19th Century. It became a 600-seat cinema in October 1913, had its named changed to the Wanstead Kinema in 1930 and closed in 1956 - since when it has been used as both a bingo club and a snooker hall.

The Wanstead Society, which fought successfully to get the previous application for the site rejected - will discuss the latest demolition plan tonight.

The Guardian has so far been unable to contact Nam Pham, who submitted the latest plan for the building.

But a design statement for the scheme, which has been significantly altered from the previous proposal, reads: "The building has become a reminder, through associated memory, of a former time for many of the local residents. This is interesting as the activity of cinema is held within the 'black box' of the auditorium.

"The image of the building (the façade) is distinctly separate from the actual process of watching the film."

It goes on to say that the design would maintain the historical building line onto the High Street and include window openings of a similar size and proportion to the ones on the existing building.

It said the proposal will also feature a 'varied roof line' – to echo the gabled design of the current building and to avoid obstructing existing views of the neighbouring George pub.

The planned roof would be slightly higher than the existing one but still significantly lower than the pub's, according to the statement.

It said the design would also include the use of London stock brick facing material, in order to match the type used in the original building and neighbouring properties.

The demolition plan will now go before the council's Conservation Advisory Panel at a date to be set.