Cinema “exhibition” open for 7 hours

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The council asked Walthamstow if it wanted the EMD retained as a cinema and the message loudly came “No to a church yes to a cinema”. The council asked the government for a ruling – the answer a resounding No to the church and a firm statement that the building should remain a cinema.

Now the council are rushing through plans to allow the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God full use of the building as a church and training rooms. Even in late March, 400 people gathered to send the message that Walthamstow didn’t need a church in that building it needed its cinema back.

The UCKG is having an “exhibition” (well they know what the answer to a consultation would be) which will be open for a grand total of 7.5 hours.

UCKG EMD exhibition
Thursday 16 (5:30-8pm) – Friday 17 (4-8pm) April 2009
St. Gabriel’s Church and Family Centre, Havant Road.

They say they will take residents’ opinions into account, so don’t be shy. Do challenge them on whatever you care about. That could include: why the building’s so poorly maintained;whether the proposed community space will be affordable and uncensored;how much non-church users could access the main auditorium for films/performances; and their willingness to trade the cinema for an alternative venue.

This Saturday there is a demonstration outside the EMD/Granada cinema 186 Hoe Street. SATURDAY 18 APRIL AT 8PM

This will be followed by a free film and social event at the Victoria Bar next door to the EMD Cinema. Various short films featuring the EMD and Alfred Hitchcock will be screened alongside some fascinating and revealing footage of particular pertinence to the current campaign.

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The UCKG say this application is different to the rejected plans because they will be providing a space for community hire within the church. In the past when community’s have bought this line they have quickly found out that the space is tiny and there are strict restrictions on what can be shown or who can meet there. The “community” has made clear what they want and that the area needs a cinema in the building more than it needs a church specialising in “dealing with issues of demon possession and deliverance“. There are other far more suitable buildings with parking capable of dealing with the huge numbers that attend the UCKG.

I doubt for instance that films like “Brokeback Mountain” would be permitted to screen in the UCKG community space and if I was a Muslim community group I wouldn’t hold my breath for use. The UCKG Helpcentre message boards are an interesting read, although at first I thought I’d clicked on the BNP discussions by mistake.
The forum is full of “news” on the terrible things gays and Muslims are upto, homosexual marriage and Libraries bowing to Muslim wishes, that kind of thing.

At a recent meeting 400 residents proposed a 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.