HITHER GREEN: Campaigners win fight to save old cinema building (From News Shopper)

HITHER GREEN: Campaigners win fight to save old cinema building

9:00am Friday 14th August 2009 in Search By Dan Keel

CAMPAIGNERS have won their fight to save a historic cinema building from destruction.

Campaign group, the Hither Green Hall group, has been fighting to stop the former Park Cinema building in Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, from being knocked down and turned into nine residential flats with a commercial unit.

Since Agenda 21 Architects Ltd submitted its planning application in November last year, the campaign group has collected around 500 signatures from people who are against the plans.

Meanwhile the council has also received a total of 49 written objections from nearby residents who want the 1913 building to stay standing.

In a meeting last week, councillors refused the planning application on the grounds it would not be in keeping with the surrounding area.

Max Calò is the spokesman for the campaign group which is urging the council to turn the building into a cinema and arts centre under the name, Hither Green Hall.

He said: "We are very pleased indeed with the decision. This building could become a cinema again, together with accommodating a whole host of other community and arts activities, plus a café or bar.

"These would be very welcome in Hither Green, providing the social focus point that this community desperately needs.

"It would make Hither Green a very different and much better place and become a catalyst for the regeneration of local businesses and other facilities."

A council spokesperson said: "The planning application was refused because council members believe the proposals would result in an overdevelopment of the site and the design was not in keeping with the local street scene."

Agenda 21 Architects Ltd was unavailable for comment.

The Hither Green Hall group is currently working on an exhibition to celebrate Hither Green’s history.

Anyone with items of historic interest should email contact@hithergreenhall.org

Lewisham is one of only two boroughs in London which does not have a cinema. The other is Waltham Forest.