WIDE VARIETY OF OBJECTIONS TO KICC PLANS
A WIDE variety of objections are listed in the report to the council’s plans sub-committee.
In addition to a petition objecting to KICC’s latest plans organised by the Picture Palace Campaign with 6,427 signatures; 767 individual objections on postcards and a petition of objection by Church Road traders, reasons for objecting to KICC’s plans include:
- The majority of the congregation will not be Bromley residents and will travel from across London
- Church Road cannot cope with the extra traffic
- I have tried to enquire about hiring it on behalf of the Crystal Palace Brass Band and failed to receive a replyMany objections covered the wish to see a proper D2 use of the site:
- It would benefit the Crystal Palace community as a whole to restore the building to its use as a cinema
- The current lawful D2 use of the building would be far more appropriate and provide a community facility which would support Crystal Palace’s economy, vibrancy and viability throughout the day and the evening
- This location is too important to the Triangle to be thrown away. We need a large, exclusively D2 venue here
- The building ought to remain a community asset accessible to all, not just those who subscribe to KICC’s way of thinking
- The current proposal will signify the loss an important cultural meeting point for Crystal Palace which will affect every resident
- Placing a church in the middle of a vibrant “cool” area sends the wrong message to local businesses who have chosen this rundown area to start businesses that are now benefiting the area
Others are critical of KICC’s lack of involvement with the Crystal Palace community:
- The change of use from D1 (Church) to D1 (mixed) is obviously a ruse to get a church in through the back door
- Continued use by the KICC would benefit only a tiny minority, their record of allowing use by other community groups is non-existent
- I live very close to this venue and I see no indicator that this organisation have any real desire to link in with the community
- Consultation from the applicant with the community has been window dressing
- Given that the current licence for the property already allows for public gathering/entertainment, why is their door not already open?
- The six activities led by KICC between August 2012 – July 2014 made little attempt to involve or publicise these events to local residents
- KICC have failed to participate in any community events, notably the Westow Park (Crystal Palace Overground) festival or Crystal Palace fireworks
- Repeatedly failed to do anything of any benefit to the local community with the building
- No intention of making the building a place for assembly and leisure for the local community
- Earlier objections to the change of use application for 25 Church Road are still valid and have not been resolved.
