Over the last 12 months Bingosupermarket has reported the story of how a church group has been in battle with local residents over the future of an ex Gala Bingo club. We can now reveal that in the final chapter, the church group has dropped the controversial plans.

The Gala bingo site in Crystal Palace had been purchased by Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) last May. The group had outbid City Screen, the independent chain behind the Brixton Ritzy and Clapham Picturehouse, which upset local residents. A campaign was mounted against the Kingsway plans.

The Christian organisation wanted to move their church in Wimbledon.  They believed their plans would help the community in terms of spiritual development, with programs that would aid the local residents by providing trainings and counseling.  For financial reasons in terms of jobs and revenues residents were against the plans and appealed to the government to put up something that would aid them financially.  The closing of the Gala Bingo club in Upper Norwood made a big impact to the local community since a lot of residents in the area used to work for the club.

The Picture Palace Campaign galvanised the community in Crystal Palace into sending thousands of objection letters to Bromley Council against the planning application. Protestors claimed that the area had greatly suffered since the clubs closure and wanted to see the site converted to a cinema. They branded the application as arrogant and unneighbourly and claimed revised plans could see more roads swallowed up by parked cars.

The application was dealt a fatal blow by Bromley council planning committee on December 17th. Committee chairman Councillor Gordon Jenkins used his casting vote to refuse the application.

Speaking at the meeting, committee councillor John Getgood said: “There is nothing wrong with another church coming into the area.

“The problem with this one is that it is being imposed on the community.

“This is a wandering tribe looking for a home.

"Crystal Palace is the wrong place for it.”

A representative of Kingsway, Bhavash Vashi, of architects Broadway Malyan, has confrimed that after some a period of reflection the church group have had a change of heart:

“I can confirm my clients are not going to appeal the decision.

“They haven’t decided what to do with the building but are looking into the possibility of turning it into an entertainment venue.”

The Picture Palace Campaign chairwoman Annabel Sidney commented:

“The Picture Palace Campaign welcomes the Kingsway’s recognition that an entertainment use is best.

“We would appreciate an opportunity to work with the church so any future developments are discussed with the whole community in mind.

“Meanwhile, we will continue to campaign for a local cinema and strongly feel that this is the best possible location for this.

“Moreover, it is key to the economic, social, cultural and physical regeneration of Church Road and the entire district centre.”

Sue Nagle, vice-chairwoman of the Crystal Palace Chamber of Commerce, commented:

“I am glad KICC has accepted that it is not practical to run the building as a church, and I hope they can find it in their hearts to allow the cinema company to buy it for the benefit of the community.”