Campaigners are fighting to save an art deco cinema that has been a cornerstone of their community for nearly a century.
Residents are trying to save the Beckenham Odeon in southeast London after the cinema operator announced it had entered an agreement to leave the Grade II-Listed building.
The facility, which opened in 1930, contains many of its original features, including the doors, staircase and full proscenium arch.
However its owner, Citygate Church, has unveiled plans to repurpose the building as a place of worship while retaining its art deco look.
A public consultation event was held in the community yesterday, however local group Save our Screen is getting ready to object to the proposals as soon as the planning application is submitted to Bromley Council.
The group hopes to have the cinema listed as an Asset of Community Value.
A petition to keep the venue open on Change.org has now collected more than 10,000 signatures.
Bromley resident Alan said: ‘One of the things that attracted us to moving to Beckenham nearly 20 years ago was that it had a cinema in the town that we could walk to.
‘We go to the Odeon often. If it closes, surrounding businesses such as restaurants, pubs and shops, will be negatively affected, as people wanting to watch a film will take their money away from Beckenham and spend it in Bromley and other towns instead.’
CityGate previously converted a post office in the town to another church.
Christopher, from Beckenham, called plans for more churches in the town ‘proposterous’.
He said: ‘A few years ago, CityGate turned the Post Office not 30 meters from the Odeon into a church, and now they want to turn the cinema into… another church.
‘This is preposterous; Beckenham does not need this many churches, certainly not two within spitting distance of one another run by the same evangelical organisation.
‘What it needs are post offices, libraries, cinemas, clean parks, independent retailers and affordable eateries. As a community we should cater to the needs of everyone who lives in Beckenham, not a singular denomination within one faith.’
Liam Conley, the Labour MP for Beckenham and Henge, said the facility was an ‘important part’ of the town’s cultural and community life.
‘I understand how strongly people feel about losing such an important community institution and about what happens to the site next. We will work together and do everything we can to make sure Beckenham residents are heard and have a say in what happens next’, he said.
has contacted Odeon, Citygate and Bromley Council for comment.
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