AN EVANGELICAL Christian group has vowed not to give up its fight to open a church in the historic EMD building in Walthamstow after its third planning application for the site was turned down.


The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) bought and closed the listed cinema in 2002 and has been trying to convert it for religious use ever since.


On Tuesday evening (September 4) a cross-party panel of councillors unanimously rejected their latest proposals at a heated meeting attended by hundreds of residents and UCKG supporters.


The church had previous applications turned down in 2002 and 2011, but described its latest bid as a “compromise” which included plans for both a church, bookshop and six-screen cinema in its upper floors.


But council officers recommended the plans be turned down because they would harm both the local economy and council-backed plans for a new multiplex on the Arcade Site close by in Hoe Street.


Pastor Paul Hill from the UCKG told the Guardian that it would appeal to the government's planning inspectorate.


Campaigners, the council and Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy are backing rival proposals by the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust, which wants to buy the building from the UCKG and reopen it as a cinema and entertainment venue.


But a “profoundly disappointed” Pastor Hill told the Guardian that the EMD was not for sale.


He said: “We worked closely with the council on this application in the hope of receiving recommendation for approval.


“The UCKG HelpCentre has gone a long way towards satisfying local desires for cinema...while also aiming to better serve its local, Walthamstow-based followers, and believed that the application amounted to a very reasonable compromise.”


Pastor Hill came under criticism during the meeting when he referred to the UCKG “using force” to get its way.


But he said his comments had been misunderstood and that he was responding to previous speaker ward councillor Clare Coghill who metaphorically spoke of “battling” against the UCKG.


Bill Hodgson, of the McGuffin Film Society campaign, told the Guardian: “I'm very pleased that the councillors made the right decision, but I'm very conscious that it's not going to end here.


“If the residents continue to support the planning process as they have done so far then I think we'll be in with a chance with the appeal”.
 


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