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Controversial plans for Bingo Club dropped
Residents in Upper Norwood, South London are celebrating this week after hearing that, after a long running battle, disputed plans concerning an old Gala Bingo Club have been dropped.
The bingo site in Crystal Palace was bought by Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in May 2009. The Christian organisation were located in Wimbledon but wanted to move, and believed their plans would lead to spiritual development of local residents, as they would be providing training and counselling.
The group outbid City Screen, the independent chain behind Clapham Picturehouse and the Brixton Roxy for the site, which led to protests by residents who wanted something instead which would provide them with jobs and revenue. The closure of the Gala Bingo Club had badly affected the local community as it provided jobs for many people, and the locals felt they needed something to help them financially in it’s place.
Such was the strength of feelings about the proposed church move that thousands of protest letters were sent to Bromley Council in the Picture Palace Campaign, claiming that the area had already suffered enough with the clubs closure and they wanted a cinema to open in the old club. They branded the proposed application unneighbourly and arrogant, and felt that parking would become a major problem if it went ahead.
On 17th December the application was doomed when Bromley Council Planning Committee Chairman Gordon Jenkins used his casting vote to refuse the application. At the same meeting John Getgood, a Committee Councillor said; “There is nothing wrong with another church coming into the area. The problem with this one is that it is being imposed on the community. This is a wandering tribe looking for a home. Crystal Palace is the wrong place for it.”
A representative of Kingsway, Bhavash Vashi, from architects Broadway Malyan, confirmed the KICC had dropped their plans, saying: “I can confirm my clients are not going to appeal the decision. They haven’t decided what to do with the building but are looking into the possibility of turning it into an entertainment venue.”
Annabel Sidney, The Picture Palace Campaign chairwoman said: “The Picture Palace Campaign welcomes the Kingsway’s recognition that an entertainment use is best. We would appreciate an opportunity to work with the church so any future developments are discussed with the whole community in mind. Meanwhile, we will continue to campaign for a local cinema and strongly feel that this is the best possible location for this. Moreover, it is key to the economic, social, cultural and physical regeneration of Church Road and the entire district centre.”
Vice-chairwoman of the Crystal Palace Chamber of Commerce, Sue Nagle said: “I am glad KICC has accepted that it is not practical to run the building as a church, and I hope they can find it in their hearts to allow the cinema company to buy it for the benefit of the community.”
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