WALTHAMSTOW: Call for more Arcade site consultation

1:59pm Monday 29th December 2008

By Sarah Cosgrove

RESIDENTS who live near the benighted Arcade site have called on councillors to fully involve local people in its future.

After the council's cabinet member for enterprise Cllr Terry Wheeler finally admitted previous plans for the land on the corner of Hoe Street and High Street, Walthamstow, were dead in the water, those living closest to the site have asked again to be involved.

Residents group Fight The Height, which came together to oppose the plans for an 18-story residential block and retail development, have long complained about local people being shut out of the decision-making process.

They claim Waltham Forest Council failed to properly consult residents when agreeing proposals with property developer St Modwen.

Fight The Height's Simon Munk, said residents welcomed a rethink on the site but still had reservations and the council should not miss a “vital moment” to engage with the community.

“There has been absolutely no public dialogue on the changes - just a terse announcement to other councillors,” he said.

"Despite changes to the retail part of the plan, it would appear St Modwen are still planning a residential tower block that will be out of keeping the low rise character of Walthamstow and against the recommendations of The Prince's Foundation report on Walthamstow.”

The latest concept would put a swimming pool, multiplex cinema and a hotel, with some shops and restaurants.

But the McGuffins Film Society, which wants the neighbouring EMD cinema to be brought back into use, said councillors were saying privately the multiplex plan had also failed.

Spokesman Bill Hodgson said: “All the indications now suggest the multiplex is dead and the entire Arcade scheme will be substantially downgraded, “We’ve consistently argued that a multiplex would be the slowest option for bringing cinema back to the borough. It is now more than two years since the multiplex plan was announced and the EMD sale sabotaged.

“Around £4 million of local taxpayers' money has been spent maintaining the empty Arcade site during that time and this sum alone would have paid for the EMD’s revival twice over”.

The Arcade site has been empty since the council served compulsory purchase orders to the remaining traders in the declining Arcade shopping centre in 2000 and bulldozers moved in in 2003.

Now Cllr Wheeler is looking for ideas for a temporary use of the site in 2009, which may include an ice rink.

What do you think the site should be used for over the next year? Contact reporter Sarah Cosgrove on 020 8498 3454 or email scosgrove@london.newsquest.co.uk.