Plans submitted to turn Upper Norwood bingo hall into a church
by Ian Austen
ian.austen@essnmedia.co.uk
Leaders of an evangelical church submitted their plans to Bromley Council this week to use a former bingo hall as church premises.
A campaign against the idea of using the Gala Bingo Hall, in Church Road, Upper Norwood, as a church has been growing and 5,000 people had signed a petition opposing the scheme before details were submitted.
Campaigners would prefer to see the building used as a cinema by City Screen, who have expressed an interest in showing art house and foreign language films.
But members of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) said this week that they hoped the Upper Norwood community would accept them if they obtained planning permission for the change of use of the building.
The church owns the freehold of the building.
KICC says its intention is to use the building as a centre from which the whole community could benefit.
At present the church operates from rented premises in the Wimbledon area and wants to move its south London headquarters to Upper Norwood.
The church says it will actively support the community by providing skills training, counselling services, youth meetings and a children's club.
James McGlashan, KICC's chief operations officer, added that local people would be welcome to use the café and bookshop planned for the centre.
And they would be allowed to watch, free of charge, weekly showings of independent films which Mr McGlashan described as "good family entertainment.
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by sscreaming alice, Crystal Palace
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 10:48PM
“The bingo hall was nothing more than a serious gambling den. If you doubt the eriouslness of the gambling, let me tell you that the tax on bingo is higher than on other forms of gambling. How can a church operate in a building with such a history and why would they want to.”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 3:51PM
“I'm sure God won't mind if they have a cinema.”
by Mr.Angry, Purley
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 4:50AM
“Great.Its usually the other way round with churches being turned into other hideous things.”
by George, London
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 7:40PM
“Poor old Crystal is a bit confused he seems to think Crystal Palace is a nice area, how wrong is he what a shame.”
by Ian, Crystal Palace
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 4:20PM
“This article does not make it clear if the submitted kicc application is the one from last Thursday. Apparently this was rejected the following day by Bromley Council for being completed incorrectly.
Have the kicc resubmitted their application?
From what I have been told, the cinema campaign is about the regeneration of Crystal Palace for the entire community. It is not an anti-kicc, anti-evangelical, anti-christian, anti-religion or anti-anything campaign. It is simply a campaign to restore a cinema for the benefit of the community which the whole community supports.
I would like to know why the kicc had to look over 6 miles away from their existing church to find a venue to relocate to? And then when they do purchase a building it has the incorrect planning permission to be used as a church! Who advises this church, I hope they do not pay them a lot of money.
The offer of free screenings from the KICC is generous, especially when the community are looking for a commercial operator to fulfill their needs. Unfortunately we must look at Catford and the UKCG to see how such promises can be swiftly forgotten.
Marsha, the petition can be found at Bookseller Crow and if you google 'crystal palace cinema campaign' there are loads of online resources.
I humbly ask as a crystal palace resident that the kicc do the right thing, give the building to City Screen, give the local community what they are desperate for and help the regeneration of Crystal Palace. The church could use any of the large empty buildings in the area and would be seen as the best thing to have happened to the area in years. Mr. McGlashan, think about this, do the christian thing and share your wealth with a community in need and create a true cinema in the area. Your church could take the old methodist hall on gypsy hill or one of a hundred other empty churches in south london.”
by dodger, crystal palace
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 4:08PM
“a cinema would be great please let us who live here have a say”
by Crystal, Local
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 3:01PM
“WTF - I think you live in West or South Norwood. Those are holes. Crystal Palace is nice.”
by Dave, Crystal Palace
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 2:25PM
“@WTF...
Move then!?!”
by WTF, Upper Norwood
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 2:23PM
“This community is a hole.”
by Dave, Crystal Palace
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 2:12PM
“Its all about it being inclusive and churches are exclusive. We want something the WHOLE community will use.”