What's been happening, and what happens next for Beckenham's cinema

It's been a couple of weeks since our last update, but the campaign hasn't been sitting in the dark eating popcorn.

We've been talking to local businesses, residents' groups and councillors about what our cinema means to Beckenham. One meeting was at a golf club; we came away with new supporters and no handicap.

Then the whole community, in all its diversity, packed Screen 1 for George Michael's Faith tour. By the encore the audience had become a choir nobody had rehearsed. Several people will deny singing. We have photos, courtesy of Phil Shemmings.

Save the date: the Odeon's last weekend, at the end of November. We'll give her a send-off worthy of 96 years on the High Street. Bring tissues.

What happens next

The last night doesn't have to be the closing credits for this building. Keeping it a cinema is exactly what we're fighting for.

A change of use needs planning permission, and when Citygate applies, you'll have your say. Bromley Council needs to hear from as many of us as possible. We'll explain how to make your voice count, no planning degree required.

With your help, we CAN protect the cinema for the community.

Friends of Beckenham Cinema (Save Our Screen)
www.saveourscreenbeckenham.org.uk

P.S. Donations pay for the expert planning and heritage advice our case depends on: https://gofund.me/c62010e3a

P.P.S. Join our WhatsApp channel to be the first to hear when the planning application goes in: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDwc1Q8vd1JTIk19A3j