The owner of a night club that purchased the Gala Bingo club in Kingston has been charged with unauthorised demolition work at the former historic cinema site.

Franco Lumba has been accused of carrying out alterations to the Gala Bingo club on Richmond road between 24th July and 26th October 2010.

He is charged with executing work for the alteration of a listed building of special architectural or historical interest not authorised under section 8 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

The 44 year old runs the nearby Essence nightclub and purchased the freehold to the bingo club in 2010. At the time there were concerns that the building would be turned in the third major nightclub in the town centre. Local residents had 800 signatures against such plans. The council rejected an application in September last year to turn the arena into a late-night alcohol licence. An appeal against the decision is due to be heard in April at the Richmond magistrates court.

The building dates back to 1932 and was designed by Robert Cromie. It was originally the Regal Cinema with 2,433 seats plus stage facilities, a Wurlitzer organ and a cafe with sprung floors for tea dances.

It was renamed the Union in 1937, the ABC in 1938 and the Regal again in 1939. In 1960 it was changed back to the ABC. By 1976 it was developed into a bingo club and declared a Grade II listing building in 2004.

According to the Kingston Council website: It is included as an early and well-preserved example of an art deco cinema from the 1930s, and a good, rare example of the work of a major cinema architect, Robert Cromie.

“Many of Cromie’s designs were for Davies or Union cinemas, and consequently do not survive.”

Mr Lumba from Twickenham is due to appear at Richmond Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 13th March.