A CHURCH group has opened the door to talks with an independent cinema chain in the battle over what a former bingo hall should be turned into.

Campaigners want to see City Screen buy the former Gala building in Church Road, Upper Norwood.

CINEMA FIGHT: (l-r) Sevrin Robinson, Katriona Ogilvy-Webb and Sue Nagle outside the old bingo hall

The company has expressed a desire to set up a cinema in the area but was outbid by Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) last June when the site came up for sale.

However, KICC's bid to change the hall into a church was halted last December, when Bromley Council rejected its planning application.

And last Thursday KICC confirmed it would not be appealing that decision.

A KICC spokesman told the Advertiser the church group remained "absolutely committed" to the site. But he added: "If City Screen want to talk to us, we will talk to them."

KICC, he said, is also happy to speak to members of the Picture Palace Cinema (PPC) campaign, who believe a cinema in the area would prove hugely popular with residents and help nearby traders.

Revealing its decision not to appeal, a statement released last week said: "KICC does not wish to be seen as 'fighting' the very community that it wishes to serve.

"The church is now considering a variety of building use options that will most benefit the whole community."