EMD Cinema Planning Appeal confirmed

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) has launched an ‘eleventh hour’ planning Appeal in a last ditch attempt to convert Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema for religious use.

The planning application aimed at converting the EMD into a place of worship was finally rejected by Waltham Forest Council in May last year following a long campaign by the McGuffin Film Society and local residents. The new Appeal means the case will now be reconsidered by government planning inspectors who have the power to overturn the local authority decision and grant permission for the church scheme – if they can be persuaded of its merits.

Councillors and senior council officers are now likely to be forced to defend their decision at a Public Inquiry later in the year.

We are now urging all our members and cinema supporters to write to the government and object to this Appeal. It is both essential and urgent that residents make their views known to the government’s planning inspectors so they are aware of the strength of local opposition to UCKG’s plans.

Full details about how to object can be found here.

NEW! Join The McGuffin Film Society or Donate Online with Your Credit/Debit Card or Paypal Account

You can now join the McGuffin Film Society or donate to the EMD Cinema campaign online using your credit card, debit card or Paypal account. 

Click here for details of how to join up online.

Council Rejects EMD Cinema Planning Application

On Wednesday 18 May Waltham Forest Council voted to reject the planning application from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) aimed at converting Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema into a place of worship.

Amidst unprecedented scenes, more than 700 people attended the planning committee meeting at Walthamstow Assembly Hall to hear the debate and witness the vote – with at least a further 250 people unable to gain access to the building due to overcrowding.

The decision to reject the UCKG planning application was unanimous and supported by all political parties.

Following the meeting Council leader Chris Robbins said “There’s a lot of support for retaining the building as a cultural venue and I am sure many residents will be delighted with the decision. Should UCKG decide to appeal we will, of course, defend our decision”.

Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, said “UCKG’s proposal to turn the EMD Cinema into a church has now been rejected twice, demonstrating the clear and settled will of the residents of Walthamstow that they wish to see this building restored as a cinema. But I am all too aware that we’ve been here before and it would be a travesty if the current owners of the site were now able to continue holding on to a precious piece of Walthamstow’s heritage and allow it to deteriorate further without consequences. Those of us who cherish the history of the building and are ambitious for its future role in our community will not rest until it is saved”.

A BBC news report can be found here. Evening Standard news reports can be found here and here. A report from the Waltham Forest Guardian can be found here.

Campaign Summary

The EMD Cinema closed in 2003 when it was purchased by the controversial Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) who intended to convert it for religious use. Following a massive local campaign led by the McGuffin Film Society, the government held a Public Inquiry which ruled that the building remained commercially viable as a cinema and should not be converted into a church. Despite receiving at least 12 offers from potential buyers, UCKG declined to sell the building and instead left it empty.

At the beginning of 2009 it was confirmed that UCKG were proposing a new scheme to convert the historic venue into a church. The new proposals would see the vast majority of the site used exclusively as a church with some space in the former Upstairs Circle area of Cinema 1 adapted to create a small venue which UCKG claim would eventually be available for community hire at commercial rates. The adjoining carpet shop and Victoria pub would also be closed and converted into UCKG ‘training rooms’ and ‘youth centre’.

In March 2009 more than 400 residents gathered to discuss the new proposals at a public meeting in Walthamstow organised by the McGuffin Film Society. 100% of those in attendance voted in favour of reviving the EMD as a cinema. Full details of the public meeting can be found here.

The following month UCKG held an exhibition of their plans which prompted a huge demonstration outside the EMD Cinema attended by over 600 local residents and attracting coverage from the national press, television and radio. Messages of support were also received from a number of celebrities (see below).

Shortly afterwards, several high profile cinema operators went on the record to confirm their ongoing interest in reviving the EMD. Read their statements here. UCKG’s new planning application was eventually published in August 2009 and a Day of Action was organised by the McGuffin Film Society to enable residents to register their objections to the scheme. Campaigners also presented a detailed planning submission to the council. More than 1000 local residents sent written objections to the council for consideration as part of the planning process.

In 2010 council leader Chris Robbins commissioned a team of independent consultants to assess the viability of reviving the EMD as a place of entertainment. The consultants met with representatives of UCKG, the council and the McGuffin Film Society to examine all sides of the cinema debate. Their report firmly endorsed the cinema’s regeneration and would play a critical role in the council’s decision to reject UCKG’s planning application. Full details about the report can be found here. The report’s recommendations also led directly to the formation of Waltham Forest Cinema Trust, a not-for-profit organisation which hopes to acquire the EMD building for cinema use if an agreement can be reached.

A brief history of the EMD Cinema can be found here. A detailed history of the campaign can be found here.

Click the link to see film footage of the Town Hall protest, the planning meeting and the decision itself.

McGuffins Film & TV Quiz Night

The popular McGuffins Film and TV Quiz Night will return on Saturday 4 February 2012 to the Rose & Crown pub, 55 Hoe Street, London E17.

Come and test your knowledge of the film and TV greats to win a selection of prizes including cinema tickets, books, DVDs and movie memorabilia. £50 cash first prize with further cash prizes for second and third places. All welcome. Admission £1.50. Click here for more details.

“possibly the biggest quiz in London” – TIME OUT

Council Backs EMD Revival

We are pleased to report that Waltham Forest Council has teamed up with Waltham Forest Cinema Trust to jointly fund a study aimed at developing a full business plan to bring the EMD Cinema back into use as a multi-purpose entertainment venue.

Cllr Chris Robbins, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “There is a tremendous amount of grassroots support for bringing the building back into use as a cultural venue and I’m glad to be able to lend my wholehearted support to the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust. These are early days yet but I believe the Trust have the knowledge and expertise to make this work and I’m therefore happy to do what I can to bring their plans one small step closer to reality.”

Neil Gerrard, Chair of Waltham Forest Cinema Trust, said: “We’re convinced that bringing the EMD back into use as a cinema and live performance venue would be hugely popular and prove to be a great asset to the local community and the local economy. The many discussions we’ve had with cinema operators, industry consultants and others convince us that a reborn cinema would be entirely viable. Restoring this wonderful Grade II* listed building and making it fit for the 21st century will be a huge undertaking and the backing of the Council to help us develop our plans is greatly welcomed. The Trust now intend to undertake detailed feasibility studies to secure confirmed backing and investment for this venture.”

The Council and the Trust will each contribute £15,000 to the new study.

We are also delighted to announce that the EMD has been incorporated into the borough’s Area Action Plan for Walthamstow.

 The Area Action Plan sets out the council’s key objectives for local regeneration and outlines a long-term strategy to deliver a high quality shopping and visitor destination in the heart of Waltham Forest.

In relation to the EMD Cinema, the new policy document states:

 “We propose a leisure led scheme with ancillary restaurant and bar uses. As a Grade II Listed Building development proposals should seek to fully restore the existing building. The development of this site will restore a decaying listed building to its rightful former glory. A leisure proposal will provide a much needed leisure and entertainment attraction to the centre which will attract additional visitors and tourism to the centre. An independent report by Locum undertaken in 2010 looked at the viability of bringing the Granada cinema back into use. It advised that it is possible to operate the Granada as an entertainment venue with a substantial commercial investment. The Locum report also indicates that it is possible for the building to operate alongside the provision of a multiplex cinema on the neighbouring Arcade site. The character and size of the cinema makes it suitable for an entertainment venue that could include performance space, auditorium events and cinema screenings which would attract local and regional visitors. Such a proposal will also support the development of the ‘leisure and entertainment zone’ proposed for this end of the centre and also the further development of the night-time economy. The site is close to key transport hubs and thus is an ideally located for people accessing the site by public transport.”

The Area Action Plan can be read in full here.

Waltham Forest Cinema Trust

We are delighted to announce the formation of Waltham Forest Cinema Trust – a not-for-profit independent organisation and registered company which aims to buy, restore and reopen the EMD Cinema as a place of entertainment for the benefit of the whole community.

Waltham Forest Cinema Trust has been created in direct response to the recommendations found in last year’s council-commissioned Locum Consultants Report which examined the viability of reviving the EMD as a cinema.

The Trust has developed a strong business model for the revived cinema which would be financially self-sustaining and does not require any funding from the local authority.

Curzon Cinemas, Phil McIntyre Entertainments and local company Eat 17 have all expressed interest in being part of  this new business venture which would see the EMD reinvented as a mixed-use entertainment venue with cinema at the core of its activities.

The Trust’s directors boast strong links to the community, excellent fundraising experience and a track record of delivering similar projects. They have the passion, vision, expertise and contacts needed to deliver a high-quality and successful new cultural centre for the borough. The Trustees include two West End theatre directors, a professional fundraiser, a member of the Bernstein family (who built the cinema in 1930) and Walthamstow’s former MP.

Waltham Forest Cinema Trust is ready to open negotiations to purchase the EMD Cinema from the current owners, the UCKG, and acknowledges that extensive restoration and refurbishment is needed to bring the building back into use.

For more information visit Waltham Forest Cinema Trust’s newly launched website at http://www.walthamforestcinematrust.org.uk/

Vertigo Magazine article

 

Vertigo Magazine has published an in-depth article about the EMD Cinema.

The article examines the cinema’s history and the campaign to secure its future. You can read the article here.

Snipe Magazine article

 

 

The latest issue of Snipe – London’s independent music, art and culture magazine – contains a new article about the EMD Cinema campaign.

Snipe is available free from a wide range of venues across the capital. The EMD Cinema article can also be read online here.

 

Stars Back EMD Cinema Campaign

    

ROLLING STONES legend Mick Jagger has joined a host of stars backing the McGuffin campaign to save Waltham Forest’s EMD Cinema.

In a statement he said “Cinemas and live venues like The Granada in Walthamstow where the Stones played in the early days, learning our craft on the way, are the lifeblood of our cultural history. They helped launch British popular music onto a world stage and should continue to function as places of entertainment and enjoyment. It’s heartbreaking to hear such a beautiful, important historical building and centre of entertainment is being lost to the local community. I fully support the campaign to keep it open and provide film, music and the arts for generations to come.”

A number of other high profile supporters have recently come forward to back the campaign.

Actor and comedian Alan Davies – star of ‘Jonathan Creek’ and a regular celebrity panelist on the BBC’s long running ‘Q.I.’ – was born in nearby Loughton and attended school in Woodford Green. He travelled to Walthamstow regularly throughout his childhood and teenage years to watch films at the EMD and has fond memories of the cinema.

“I was shocked to hear of the possible demise of the beautiful Granada Cinema in Walthamstow,” he said. “I spent many happy hours there as a child and find it extraordinary that its preservation as a cinema for local people is not a priority in the borough of Waltham Forest. With the recent demise of the dog track and now this news, it seems the protection of the area’s historic and cultural landmarks is in the wrong hands.”

Award winning actress and screenwriter Meera Syal MBE once lived near the cinema and has also offered her support to the campaign.

“I’ve spent many happy hours in this stunningly beautiful building over the years,” said Meera Syal. “The Walthamstow cinema has a rare touch of glamour and it would be an absolute tragedy if the film lovers of east London were to be permanently deprived of this beautiful jewel of a cinema”.

‘Blackadder’ and ‘Time Team’ star Tony Robinson grew up in Leytonstone and was a regular visitor to the EMD throughout his youth. He was mortified to hear about the latest threat to the venue.

“The cinema is an exotic masterpiece,” said Tony Robinson. “It’s where my teenage eyes were opened to the great jazz and rock ‘n roll artists of the 1960s and where I saw a host of great movies. At this exciting time in our history when east London is about to be revitalised, it would be crazy to turn our backs on such a magnificent venue. If not for our sakes, then for the sake of the next generation of film and music lovers, let’s ensure it is given the opportunity to reclaim its place as the hub of Walthamstow’s high-class entertainment”.

TV comedian and presenter Griff Rhys Jones has also thrown his weight behind efforts to save the venue.

The Welsh-born star is currently appearing as Fagin in the musical ‘Oliver’ at Drury Lane but it was in Walthamstow where he first fell in love with the world of entertainment. Griff Rhys Jones grew up in Epping and was a regular visitor to Walthamstow’s cinema where he saw numerous films throughout his childhood.

“We will realise that we have lost something wonderful and magical if this cinema goes and it will only slip away if we don’t raise our voices to stop that happening,” he said. “I am an Epping boy and Walthamstow was my stomping ground. This is a great place and a great place to watch films. These grand cinemas are becoming rarer. They were the cathedrals of their age and still have a role to play”.

Griff Rhys Jones has been joined by actor Paul McGann in pledging his support to the EMD campaign.

“The planning officers should do the right thing and ensure the borough does not lose its last working cinema,” said Paul McGann. “It would be nothing short of a cultural disgrace if this was allowed to happen and would underline why our nearest European neighbours regard us as philistines”.

David Warner is an Emmy-award winning actor with a career spanning more than four decades. His extensive film credits include ‘Star Trek’, ‘Titanic’, ‘The Omen’, ‘Time Bandits’ and ‘Straw Dogs’ and he is well known for his long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is calling on local councillors to reject plans to alter the cinema.

“It’s essential for our future that we do not destroy the treasures of our past,” he said. “This building saw the beginning of something we now take for granted – the shared experience of cinema. Please allow it to remain for that purpose – a place of memories and dreams”.

 The writer and philosopher Alain de Botton has also contacted the McGuffin Film Society to express his backing for the EMD. The bestselling author of ‘The Architecture of Happiness’ is a vocal advocate of preserving classic London buildings and he hit the headlines last year after becoming the first writer-in-residence at Heathrow Airport.

“The EMD Cinema was built to promote happiness, culture and entertainment for the benefit of the whole community,” he said. “I fully support the McGuffin campaign to save the cinema and share their wish to see it reopened as a flagship arts venue for east London”.

In addition, David Parfitt – chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) – has issued a statement in support of the venue’s revival.

“The cinema should be at the heart of the community,” he said. “Film is open to all regardless of religion or ethnicity and seeing a great film in a great cinema is one of the best community experiences you can have. Don’t let another great picture palace die”.

Chingford MP and Work and Pensions Minister Iain Duncan Smith has joined Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy in pledging support to the revival of the historic Hoe Street landmark.

“Its time this cinema reopened,” said Iain Duncan Smith. “From my standpoint in Chingford this is our local cinema. With cinema tickets selling at record levels, it would be good for the community and good for Waltham Forest if it was revived”.  

Veteran politician, broadcaster and historian Tony Benn has also sent a message to confirm his opposition to the current UCKG-council plan.

“I offer 100% support against the vandalism that is being planned,” said Tony Benn.

Other supporters of the McGuffin campaign include former London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Alfred Hitchcock’s daughter Patricia.

An Evening Standard news report can be found here.

Consultants Report: Revived Cinema Would ‘Put Walthamstow On Map’

The consultants report examining options for the future of the EMD Cinema has now been published.

The report examines the revival of the venue as a mixed-use arts facility with full time cinema operations. It also explores how the EMD could function as a joint church-cinema venture.

The consultants report states: the cinema “is probably the single most valuable asset Walthamstow has in terms of potential to create an entertainment and cultural facility that stands out within the Greater London context, is capable of making a big impact in terms of stimulating an attractive evening economy, is capable of providing a venue where the diverse communities in Walthamstow freely mix, and is capable of attracting people from outside of the Borough”.

The consultants also state that a revived EMD would be immensely preferable to a new multiplex.

The report states: “although a new multiplex would assist in giving Walthamstow a night offer, restoration of the Granada is perhaps the only venture that could seriously put Walthamstow on the map as an evening destination”.

The consultants report also confirms that a Compulsory Purchase Order would enable the council to acquire the venue at its current market value which is likely to be in the region of £1.4 million.

The consultants stress that a revived cinema would initially need some capital support but they have identified a wide range of realistic funding sources which would not require council subsidy. They also make clear that cinema operators are already on board and willing to contribute.

 The report can be read in full below…

 J1029_EMD_Cinema_Options_FINAL.

A Waltham Forest Guardian news report can be found here. Comments from Stella Creasy MP can be found here.

New Visions for a Revived Cinema

New designs for a revived cinema were displayed as part of the EMD Cinema’s 80th Anniversary celebrations in September. 

The above image was created by designer and McGuffin Film Society member Paul Lindt following the recent publication of the council-funded report examining the EMD’s future viability. 

 Also exhibited was a radical project to reinvent the EMD as Britain’s ‘greenest’ cinema by architect Paul King as shown here. Full details and background to this design can be viewed in this pdf document  PKA_EMD_80th_Handout.

 

‘Alfred Hitchcock in East London’

The new documentary ‘Alfred Hitchcock in East London’ is now available as a limited edition DVD.

‘Alfred Hitchcock in East London’ explores the legendary director’s mysterious early days and uncovers many lesser known facts about his formative years.

Retracing Hitchcock’s footsteps around Leytonstone, Limehouse, Stratford and Hackney, the film reveals how his early London life profoundly influenced his later work. The documentary also examines Hitchcock’s associations with the long forgotten Walthamstow film industry and tells the previously untold story of his support for an East London cinema during the height of his Hollywood fame.

The film identifies the key sites from the director’s youth which still exist today and features contributions from Roy Ward Baker (assistant director, ‘The Lady Vanishes’), Charles Barr (author of the seminal ‘English Hitchcock’), veteran actor Murray Melvin and numerous others. It paints a portrait of Hitchcock and his roots which is radically different to previous biographies and documentaries.

“a fascinating insight” – Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.

“a rarely seen side of the master which is often conveniently ignored in favour of his later Hollywood success” – USA Today.

DVD Special Features: 40-minute Alfred Hitchcock audio interview, ‘Working with Hitch – The Memories of Roy Ward Baker’ featurette, ‘The Lost Cinemas of Limehouse and Leytonstone’ featurette, ‘Zeppelins over London’ featurette, ‘Hitchcock’s Leytonstone Today’ stills featurette, ‘BBC Big Screen – The EMD Cinema’ featurette, ‘The Story of Aventure Malgache’ stills featurette.

Scroll down to see a TV news report and the latest reviews of ‘Alfred Hitchcock in East London’.

The DVD can now be purchased from  or send a cheque / postal order for £10 payable to ‘McGuffin’ to: The McGuffin Film Society, 458 Hoe Street, London E17 9AH.

 TV news report and latest reviews below.

http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury-leisure/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=430002

http://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/06/film-reveals-hitchcocks-east-e.html

CTA Condemns Cinema Plan

The Cinema Theatre Association (CTA) has condemned proposals to convert Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema into a church.

The CTA has written to the council to register their opposition to the current planning application submitted by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) which aims to reopen the venue as a place of worship.

Caseworker Eva Branscome said “We are highly concerned should this application be allowed that the building will be lost for the use of the community at large. A future use as a place of worship would be neither regenerative nor conducive to a thriving entertainment and recreational district that any community would aspire to”.

The CTA has attempted to inspect the cinema on several occasions over recent months to assess its current condition but appointments have been repeatedly cancelled. “The resistance of the owners to allow access does not give us confidence that this important historic entertainment building will be available to the wider public for community use,” said Ms. Branscome. “This has been the case with the Astoria in Finsbury Park, also a historic cinema owned by UCKG and converted to a place of worship, where access to non-members is now discouraged by the doormen and security staff who can be intimidating to the general public. This is in stark contrast to other more traditional places of worship where newcomers or people interested in the building are always made to feel welcome”.

The CTA has also urged the council to incorporate the cinema into plans for the redevelopment of the adjacent Arcade site.

Bernstein Family Declares Support

The family of the men who created Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema are backing the campaign to save the venue.

Showbiz moguls Cecil and Sidney Bernstein founded the Granada cinemas empire in 1930 and the Walthamstow site was one of their first and most lavish projects. The Ilford-born brothers would later build more than 50 cinemas around the country and were the founders of Granada Television. Sidney Bernstein was also a lifelong friend and collaborator of Alfred Hitchcock with whom he formed Transatlantic Pictures in 1948.

Sidney Bernstein’s nephew Toby Stone has been in touch to offer his family’s support for the campaign to save the cinema.

“My family and I are very concerned to hear that the cinema might cease to be a place of entertainment and become a church,” said Mr. Stone. “This building has served as a cinema for many generations of people and is the last substantial place of entertainment in the area. The building was intended to bring the community together and to raise local access to culture and entertainment. It was always meant to be somewhere open to everyone. If it becomes a church then clearly that purpose is completely lost. It would be very sad for Waltham Forest if such a long and important tradition now falls by the wayside through the outcome of a planning decision. I am also concerned at the damage this Grade 2* Listed building will sustain if its use is converted in this way. It was designed by some of the great architects and designers of their generation and forms part of the heritage of the great picture palaces”. 

Mr. Stone has now written to the council to voice his opposition to UCKG’s plans.

 

Sidney Bernstein pictured with Alfred Hitchcock.

Cinema Bidders Break Their Silence

 

Previous bidders who tried to buy the EMD Cinema have finally broken their silence.

The news follows a statement by Pastor Paul Hill of UCKG claiming it would not be possible to revive the venue as a cinema.

As the McGuffin Film Society has always maintained, a number of substantial bids were made for the site when the cinema was put up for sale in 2005/6. However, all bids were rejected. Until now all the bidders have preferred to remain anonymous and declined to discuss their plans in the public arena. We have always respected these wishes but are pleased to now set the record straight.

Tyrone Walker-Hebborn is the businessman who created the hugely successful Genesis Cinema in Mile End. The venue was developed at the derelict former ABC Cinema which had stood empty for more than a decade. It is now one of London’s most popular independent cinemas.

Mr. Walker-Hebborn made his offer for the EMD in the hope of repeating that success in Walthamstow. His offer was rejected but he remains interested in acquiring the cinema if it becomes available again.

“It would be entirely possible to bring the cinema back to life,” he said. “We regenerated and reopened the Genesis after it had been closed and left derelict for 10 years and proved that a successful business can rise from the ashes of an old one. I see the Walthamstow cinema as a similar project and there is no apparent reason why it couldn’t work”.

Walthamstow businessman Guy Davies was another bidder for the cinema in 2006. Mr. Davies is a local entrepreneur who was responsible for the transformation of Hatherley Mews into the Hiltongrove Business Centre which is now a hub for the area’s creative industries. More recently he has helped revive the decaying former Leyton Town Hall as the Legacy E10 Business Centre.

“Through Hiltongrove I have made several bids for the cinema which have been rejected,” said Mr. Davies. “I have always believed and continue to maintain that the EMD can be revived as a viable cinema”.

Lyn Goleby, the managing director of City Screen which operates the successful Picturehouse Cinemas chain, has also issued a statement confirming their interest in the EMD.

“Our previous work has shown clearly that the redevelopment of historic cinema buildings such as the former EMD in Walthamstow can act as an organic catalyst for wider regeneration,” she said. “These projects attract other businesses to the area and really stimulate the night time economy”.

UCKG’s claim that the EMD is no longer viable as a film venue has also been flatly refuted by the owner of Britain’s most successful independent cinema.

James Hannaway is the man who transformed the dilapidated Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted into what is widely recognised as the country’s most brilliant cinema resurrection of recent years.

“The stunning EMD could readily work in the same way,” said James Hannaway. “The special interest of the building could be protected as was the Rex. Local cultural and social interests would be reflected in the programming”.

James Hannaway believes a full revival of the EMD is an entirely viable proposition. In common with the EMD, the Rex in Berkhamsted is also a listed 1930s art deco cinema. It closed for a period of 16 years before its triumphant revival in 2004 and now caters for sell out audiences at least five nights a week. James Hannaway believes the EMD would be an ideal candidate for a similar revival.

“The Rex is the most successful independent cinema in the UK because it cares about where it is,” said James Hannaway. “Walthamstow is already a vibrant area. Already it has lost its world-famous dog track to developers and weak planning. Don’t let it lose the fabulous EMD cinema. It is only inches from being big, bright, beautiful and buzzing again”.

UCKG has also now claimed to have received little interest in their attempt to sell the cinema in 2006 – a claim which is somewhat at odds with their statements at the time. See below for a UCKG quote about the levels of interest in the cinema sale published in the ‘Waltham Forest Guardian’ during that period.

                

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

80 Years of Walthamstow’s Cinema – The Celebration

 

Thanks to everyone who attended the McGuffin Film Society’s EMD Cinema 80th Anniversary event on Saturday 18 September.  

The free one-day festival took place next door to the cinema in Hatherley Mews and neighbouring venues. The event began during the afternoon outdoors in the Mews with live music, craft stalls and children’s activities as well as film screenings in the Grove Cafe. 

The Mews also played host to an exhibition of cinema-inspired art, a display of potential designs for a revived EMD and the first public appearance of plans which were created for the venue’s regeneration in 2006 when it was briefly up for sale. A number of films were screened throughout the day including children’s favourite ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ and the 1950s comedy ‘The Smallest Show on Earth’ as well as documentaries examining Alfred Hitchcock and the cinema itself. The celebrations drew to a close at midnight with performances by comedians from the Glee17 Comedy Club in the Victoria bar. 

A Waltham Forest Guardian news report can be found here.        

EMD Cinema: ELECTION MEETING

 

With a decision on the future of Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema postponed until after the election, the McGuffin Film Society organised a public meeting where the issue could be discussed by local residents and the candidates seeking political office in the area.

The EMD meeting and hustings was held on Sunday 25 April at Walthamstow School for Girls, Church Hill and was attended by around 500 residents. A news report can be found on the Waltham Forest Guardian website here.

Local Businesses Back EMD

Representatives of Walthamstow’s business community gathered outside the EMD Cinema at the weekend to demonstrate their support for saving the venue.

Waltham Forest Council is currently considering a planning application by owners the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) aimed at converting the historic cinema for religious use despite previous plans being rejected by the government.

“A revived cinema would certainly be the best use for the EMD building,” said Glenn Conn of estate agents Haart. “It would benefit the local community and businesses and make Walthamstow a more attractive place to live”.

Fellow estate agent Andrew Goad of Churchill Estates agreed. “We strongly feel that the community would greatly benefit from the EMD re-opening as a cinema,” he said. “It would enhance local businesses and the regeneration plan for the area”.

His comments were echoed by Ben Tobin, managing director of the borough’s largest estate agent Strettons. “Since the council’s failure to secure a development on the former Arcade site the cinema is one of the most focal points in the town centre,” he said. “There is a strong need for a viable town centre and this would be a significant boost”.

Many of the area’s restaurants and bars are also throwing their weight behind efforts to revive the cinema.

“I want the EMD to come back,” said Peking Chef manageress Ming Feng Li. “It would benefit all the people who live in Walthamstow”.

“The cinema would generate more customers who would use local amenities before and after going to screenings,” added Grove Cafe manager Franc Escuder. “This would help build a sense of community and cohesion”.

Aaron Clingham, co-manager of the Rose and Crown pub, agreed. “A cinema at the EMD is necessary for the continued regeneration of Walthamstow and would be of vital importance to businesses and residents alike,” he said.

Stuart Arnott is the director of the Red Planet multimedia production company based in Hatherley Mews next to the EMD. He believes the venue’s revival would transform the area. “A restored cinema would be a jewel in East London’s crown, a focal point for civic pride and a unique visitor attraction,” he said. “It would benefit a variety of local businesses as Walthamstow would become a destination to spend the day. I urge the council to reject any change to the building’s use and do everything in its power to allow it to remain a cinema”.

Councillors are expected to vote on the EMD’s future in the next few weeks.

PHOTO: Business representatives from Haart Estate Agents (Hoe Street), Peking Chef restaurant (Hoe Street), L’Hirondelle Cafe (Hoe Street), Academy Design (Hatherley Mews), Fenicks Dry Cleaners (Hoe Street), Tidy Books (Hatherley Mews), Kaz Digital Services (Hoe Street), Grove Cafe (Hoe Street), Celsius Wine Bar (Hoe Street), Sibercow (Hatherley Mews), Rose and Crown Theatre Pub (Hoe Street), Strettons (Hoe Street) and Hiltongrove Business Centre (Hatherley Mews).

Show Your Support – Posters and Leaflets

Show your support for the EMD Cinema campaign by downloading one of the posters below and displaying in your window, car or workplace.

 SaveWalthamstow’sCinema-poster          SaveWalthamstow’sCinema-poster2

Day of Action

A Day of Action in support of the cinema was held on Sunday 13 September at the Rose and Crown Theatre Pub in Walthamstow.

The event featured free films, children’s entertainment, live music, exhibitions and an opportunity for residents to register their objections to plans for the EMD Cinema. The day also saw the premiere of ‘Save Our Screen’, a new documentary examining the story of the EMD, and a live performance by legendary rocker Ed Tudor-Pole.  More than 500 people attended the event.   

UCKG in Further Controversy

According to international press reports, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) is currently embroiled in further controversy regarding their financial arrangements.

The Associated Press has reported the following:

“The founder of one of Brazil’s biggest evangelical churches siphoned off billions of dollars in donations from his mostly poor followers to buy jewellery, TV stations and other businesses for himself, authorities charged Tuesday. A Brazilian judge accepted charges from prosecutors alleging that Bishop Edir Macedo and nine other people linked to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God committed fraud against the church itself and against its numerous followers. Sao Paulo state’s prosecutors office alleged in a statement that Macedo and the others took more than $2 billion in donations from 2003 to 2008 alone, but charged that the alleged scheme went back 10 years.

Church lawyer Arthur Lavigne told the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo that the accused denied any wrongdoing. Church officials did not respond to attempts to reach them by phone and e-mail.Prosecutors said the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God receives nearly $800 million in donations every year from faithful in 4,500 temples across Brazil. The church claims to have nearly 8 million followers in Brazil and many more around the world. Prosecutors said the church tells its members it needs donations — cash, checks, cars and other goods — to finance new temples and to pay for religious programs on radio and TV.

The church allegedly used fake companies to launder the money, moving the assets abroad and then returning them in the form of loans used by Macedo and his accomplices to buy businesses, prosecutors said.

“There is proof that the money from the donations was used to attend to the personal interests of those being accused” and that they took advantage that the donations were not taxed to make investments in personal business, the prosecutors’ statement said.

Macedo, who founded the church in 1977, owns a large television network, three newspapers and several radio stations. He also owns a tourism agency and an air taxi company. In the early 1990s, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God was investigated for embezzlement and tax evasion, but nothing was ever proven and the church grew stronger.”

Further reports can be found below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/13/brazil-evangelical-leader-charged-fraud

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bishop-accused-over-billions-of-donations-1770850.html

Public Rejects Church Cinema Plan

More than 400 local residents attended a public meeting on 29 March 2009 to debate the future of the area’s historic EMD Cinema.

The public meeting was organised in response to a planning application which is expected shortly aimed at converting the film venue for church use.

At the end of the meeting the public was asked to vote on four key issues:

• On the issue of whether the community would prefer a revived EMD or a new multiplex, 100% of those attending voted in favour of the EMD without abstentions.
• When asked if residents supported or opposed the current UCKG plan, 100% of those attending voted against without abstentions.
• When asked if the local council should pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order to take control of the EMD building, 100% of those attending voted in favour without abstentions.
•  The final vote concerned an alternative compromise plan whereby UCKG would relinquish control of the EMD in exchange for new conference facilities to be built as part of the Arcade redevelopment. 90% of those attending voted in favour of this solution while 10% voted against.

Links

•  Minutes from the meeting can be downloaded as a PDF here.
• A report about the meeting can be found on the Waltham Forest Guardian website.