Campaigners who want to see the former bingo hall in Crystal Palace become a cinema said they are "delighted" the church that owns the site will not appeal the council decision to turn down its application to open a place of worship there.
Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) confirmed today in a statement it would not be challenging Bromley Council's decision to refuse the change from D2 community use because it does not want to be seen as "fighting" the very community it wanted to serve.
Annabel Sidney, who heads up the Picture Palace Campaign (PPC), said, "PCC is delighted to learn that the KICC does not intend to appeal and has finally acknowledged that the local wishes and views of 3,500 residents who objected to the change of use application, and the views of Bromley, Croydon and Lambeth councils should be respected.
"We also welcome KICC's further indication that the church is now considering a variety of building use options that will most benefit the whole community.
"We now expect KICC to follow up on this commitment by entering into meaningful dialogue which will lead to action which reflects the interests and concerns of the whole community, rather than a particular group.
"The PPC wishes to work with KICC to find a mutually acceptable outcome but one which also clearly recognises that 25 Church Road should only be used for permissible activities which contribute to the cultural and economic regeneration of 25 Church Road and the town centre.
"We hope that KICC will now respect the fact that the building's D2 classification will only allow for permissible uses such as a cinema, concert hall, bingo hall or casino, or dance hall.
"Our ambition to develop a professional run cinema to provide a sorely needed cultural resource for the whole community is shared by others.
"Almost 7,000 members of the local community signed our petition supporting our campaign which is also being followed by facebook groups with over 6,000 members from across the world.
"The UK's leading independent cinema provider has confirmed interest in the site and we would hope that KICC will enter into discussions with them."
KICC released a statement earlier today, on the deadline day for a decision on whether or not it would be appealing the planning decision made by Bromley Council on December 17 last year Its statement read, "Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is now able to confirm it will not be lodging an appeal against the planning decision taken on December 17 2009, regarding 25 Church Road, Crystal Palace.
"Contrary to recent press speculation, KICC’s planning consultants had advised that KICC stood a very good chance of lodging a successful appeal. However, KICC does not wish to be seen as “fighting” the very community that it wishes to serve.
"It was always in KICC’s plans for the building to have a large element of community use in any seven days (as anyone who has studied the original planning application can verify); the church is now considering a variety of building use options that will most benefit the whole community."
The church said it would be releasing a fuller statement in due course in terms of its plans for the building, which it was still deciding, and would consult with the community over the plans.
A KICC spokesman said, "The use will be in line with its current community use as stipulated by D2 planning use."
He said KICC would look to use it as a cinema showing family films as well as offer it for use for amateur threatre groups to put on plays, and for concerts, including Christian music.
He remained tight-lipped over how extensively it would be used by KICC for its activities.
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How much of your wealth have you transferred to the KICC moneymen Ola?
KICC is nothing to do with God and everything to do with the pyramid selling of the words of a false prophet and the promotion of the Prosperity Gospel . The motivation for the false prophet is money.
Here's a reminder of what the bible has to say:
Matthew 7:15-23, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits"
Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.
Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
Whoever fights KICC fights with God on their side to purge this land of mamon
Since The KICC deprived this area of a golden opportunity for regeneration many people have had a long hard look at them, the way they operate, the way they twist the words of the Bible to justify their obsession with money, and their wider activities, including their activities on the foreign exchange market.
The question "How is can they justify their charitable status?" has to be asked. What wider good does this organisation deliver? A close look at the KICC and the way it behaves to those who aren't their congregants gives an impression of a 'Church' which shows little Christianity or Charity to the wider community.
If he exists that is, I'll let you decide that one.
The facts are that The KICC outbid City Screen, the cinema operator, for the building. They were able to do this no doubt because they have charitable status, which means that they don't have to pay tax on their considerable annual turnover. It is estimated that charitable status is worth £1.5 million p.a. to the KICC.
A cinema would have been a huge game changer for this area. It would have increased footfall and trade, it would have helped regenerate church road, there would have been a club for kids and City Screen also works with local schools. The KICC brings nothing to this area but arrogance, and a contempt for the local community.
Your wrong about Walthamstow too. Many local business and Councillors rue the day the KICC came to town. They even have stewards in municipal car parks directing 'The faithful' to parking spaces, which does't do a lot for local trade. Don't forget their motto "Taking Territories" There is also the issue of just how 'Christian' The KICC is. Have a look at some of the concerns expressed by the Bishop of Croydon.
Finally, Wimbledon had their ground sold from underneath them. It wasn't a case of having no support.
Apart from this and all your other inaccuracies, I thought your post was quite good in parts.
If you don't look after what you have, you're going to lose it, and if history is any teacher you only have to look around you at sites that have fallen into disrepair through lack of use and so-called "community support".
Such was the support of Wimbledon Football Club that it had to move first to Crystal Palace and then to Milton Keynes.
This tribal mentality and following the crowd even though you don't where it's going is what ruins communities. Seems folk would rather have the building empty than see thousands of people not just come to the area but people within the area benefit from this possible development.
Would local businesses benefit? Ask local businesses in the Leyton/Walthamstow area...traffic is a small price to pay for the revitalization of any area.
And despite what you say KICC have shown no interest or love for this community. To date it is hell bent on it's own needs and prosperity, this is evident in the lack of consultation, the refusal to set out it's intended use of the only entertainment building in town and the statement issued through it's agents to Bromley council at the planning hearing. The statement came across as a threat and went a bit like this:
"KICC would like to point out that 25 Church Road could be used for much larger capacity crowds. If KICC did not get permission to use it as a church then it would use 25 Church Road to draw maxiumum capcity crowds and this will cause problems with parking and traffic nusiance for the community."
The message was one of war not love Aaron.
And it is not just be the local residents, traders and patrons of the town centre who will be massively impacted by congregant traffic and parking demand but KICC members themselves.
Be interesting to see what the head honchos put on the licensing application but one thing's for sure the application will be scrutinised and fought every step of the way.
Completely ignored Bromley councils decision and will not talk to any of the community no matter how many times they are asked. So much for the community etc, etc.
Even KICC said the car parking was going to be a headache so what do they do, throw in a few hundred more seats to make that side of things really bad! We see the pastors turn up in their nice new Mercs and Beamers paid for by their "charity" they are all under FSA investigation for financial misconduct, aka fiddling.
You are not welcome in CP
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