CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND NORWOOD SOCIETY OPPOSE NEW CHURCH PLANS

CRYSTAL PALACE Chamber of Commerce and the Norwood Society have both voiced their opposition to renewed plans to use the former cinema building at 25 Church Road for church services.Their opposition comes as KICC  – Kingsway International Christian Centre – have put a glossy questionnaire card through doors in the area saying they intend to apply for mixed use of the venue – and asking peoples views on various questions.

KICC are also planning an open day at 25 Church Road this Saturday (October 4th) from 10 am to 3pm.A Chamber of Commerce spokesman told News From Crystal Palace: “The Chamber’s position is unchanged from the last poll of our members which showed that the majority felt that 25 Church Rd should retain its current approved use, and that change of use, or shared use, would not have a beneficial impact on trade in Crystal Palace.”Furthermore, given the well known parking issues here, and the predominantly weekend nature of business activity, a change of use to a church would have a detrimental impact on trade.”Our view is that the KICC, which is a religious organisation, should have been aware when they bought the building that a change of use would be needed for them to operate as a church.

“Yet in spite of local opposition and their original application for change of use being rejected, they continued to refurbish the building for what seems primarily religious use. “This expenditure is not grounds for consideration in a renewed planning application.

“The Chamber of Commerce’s objections to their plans to turn the building into a church are following neither a religious nor secular agenda, but are purely based on what is beneficial or detrimental to the trading community.”

A Norwood Society spokesman told News From Crystal Palace: “We are opposed to use of the building as a church and we will oppose any new application for change of use to use as a place of worship.

“The other stuff appears to be an attempt to soften up the local community presumably with a view to getting people to withdraw opposition.”

The Chamber of Commerce have also written an open letter to KICC in which they highlight some of the points made to this website. In their letter the Chamber also say:

“We have been informed that the renovations have been carried out to a high standard. “We also note that much effort has been made to open the building up to social use.

“Our members’ concerns are purely business related and these are primarily focused on parking. Many traders tell us that as much as 80 per cent of their trade is at weekends. “Lack of parking  here is a serious issue. “Any further reduction of parking availability would be detrimental to local business activity

“Our members’ concern is that the parking problem has yet to be addressed. “We understand that the KICC has a sizeable congregation. “Without a study on the impact of added strain on the existing parking facilities we cannot recommend the plan for change of use.

“Of course were the building to retain its use – as a cinema as has been suggested –  there would still be a parking problem. “But there would be more ‘consumers’ of trade, or footfall as increased consumer activity is called.

“So reiterating our reservations to the proposed change of use for purely business reasons, we consider that , as your proposals stand at present, these are detrimental to our members and  local traders.

“Another point is the use of the word regeneration. “It would seem more appropriate to describe this as a modernisation or renovation of the building itself .”

THE QUESTIONNAIRES which KICC have issued ask:

if people support the regeneration work they have undertaken

if they agree there is a requirement for a multi-use community venue in Crystal Palace

what type of events people would attend at the Open Door

if people or their organisations would be interested in hiring their facilities

and for any other comments. “Copies of the responses will be made available to the council so it is aware of all forms received.” the form states.

(In 2009 KICC bought the building from Gala Bingo in a secret deal. The public outcry which followed led to the formation of the Picture Palace Campaign which organised a public meeting at the Queens hotel which attracted 1,000 people. In December that year a Bromley council plans sub-committee rejected the application by KICC to change the use of the building to a church. No appeal was made against that decision).

The reports of the public meeting, plans sub committee and subsequent news stories can be found elsewhere on this website – Ed.)