Saved: a fine cinema

Published: 28 April, 2011

• I WAS pleased to hear that the planning  inspector has dismissed the appeal against the refusal of planning permission and listed building consent for the redevelopment of the former Carlton Cinema in Essex Road. 

This was a misguided scheme where the developer repeatedly ignored the sound advice given by Islington Council’s officers over the last four years. It is good that the inspector awarded the council costs in this long-drawn-out case.

The Carlton Cinema, listed Grade II*, is a fine 1930s building and many residents have fond memories of it as a cinema and bingo hall. 

Finding appropriate and imaginative uses for its historic buildings has been one of Islington's success stories and one hopes that common sense will prevail at the Carlton. 

It is unfortunate that the building has been empty for so long. Meanwhile, congratulations to the council officers and planning committee for sticking to their guns.

ALEC FORSHAW
N1 

Editor’s note: Alec Forshaw’s latest book, 1970s London: Discovering the Capital, has just been published by the History Press. 

• AS one of the local councillors for the former Essex Road bingo hall site where the planning application was proposed, I spoke against it and voted to turn it down.  

Like many residents and the Canonbury Society, I believed that the application was too big, would be of little real community value and would have a major impact on the local transport network. The developer failed to include any affordable housing or reassure us that the listed bingo hall would be safe.

I am pleased we have won this stage of the battle and I would like to pay tribute to the Canonbury Society’s work to preserve the best of our local area. The challenge now is to get the developer or any future owners to make new proposals for this important site so it doesn’t fall into rack and ruin and remains of real community use.

CLLR SUSAN BUCHANAN
Lib Dem, St Mary’s ward