Hi everyone, here is the latest news from the Picture Palace Campaign:

The deadline for any KICC appeal against Bromley’s decision is Monday 21 June 2010. In anticipation of the appeal deadline both the South London Press and the Streatham Guardian[i] had been in touch with the KICC’s planning agent, Broadway Malyan, who has stated clearly that the KICC is not going to appeal but the church has not decided what to do with the building and is looking into the possibility of turning it into an entertainment venue within its existing D2 use class – leisure/entertainment.

It is impossible for us to know the true position. However, when the KICC’s agent was lobbying Bromley planning committee members back in December, he made a couple of very similar written statements (we have highlighted key points in bold):

“It is worth noting the unrestricted nature of the permitted use could mean that the site is used more intensively i.e. additional seating and standing capacity introduced so that the building could hold numbers way in excess of the current 1150 capacity limit without any need for planning permission. It could also be used for other permitted uses including a dance hall, concert venue etc all uses with the potential to cause significant noise/disturbance and parking problems in the local area.

KICC as the legal owners and a responsible organisation will simply use the building for some of its activities in line with the present approved use should planning permission be denied. The consequences of this is that the building will only be occupied for between 3-4 hours on a couple of days during the week compared to the proposed 7-day a week programme (both during the day and into the evening) put forward as part of this application. This reduced programme would also limit the level of investment that could be set aside to refurbish this building.”

So, what does this mean for the campaign? Is the KICC appealing or not? We won’t know the position until the deadline has passed, but for the time being we have to take this at face value. In the hope that what the KICC’s agent has said is true, we have issued the following statement:

“The Picture Palace Campaign welcomes the KICC’s recognition that a D2 leisure/entertainment use is best for No.25 Church Road. We would appreciate an opportunity to work with the church to ensure any future developments are discussed with the whole community in mind, so that all local people can benefit. Meanwhile, we will continue to campaign for a local cinema and strongly feel that 25 Church Road - as the only heritage leisure/entertainment site in the vicinity - is the best possible location for this and moreover is key to the economic, social, cultural and physical regeneration of Church Road and the entire district centre. We hope the KICC will enter into discussion with a leading cinema provider so this can be delivered.”

In the event the church does submit a last minute appeal, the Crystal Palace Triangle Planning Group (CPTPG), which represents the campaign on planning matters, is in the process of instructing legal counsel – a planning barrister – to assist the campaign. The CPTPG will also seek counsel’s advice should any proposals come forward from the KICC to use the building for a limited number of events, including using it as an occasional concert venue.

Please keep checking our website http://www.picture-palace.org, the Picture Palace Campaign Facebook site and http://www.virtualnorwood.com for updates and events. And do continue to let us know your thoughts and any ways in which you would like to help us. Many thanks again for your fantastic support.