the Mayor is angered by the decision of an unelected and unaccountable planning inspectorate
- there is no objection to redundant buildings being converted to churches, provided they meet the usual planning requirements
- in this case Lewisham would lose a vital building which is part of plans for good leisure facilities in Lewisham and the regeneration of Catford.
The Mayor of Lewisham, Steve Bullock, has reacted with anger to the decision by a planning inspector to allow the former ABC cinema in Bromley Road, Catford to be turned into a church.
Despite agreeing that a church would make less of a contribution to the vitality of Catford than a cinema the Planning Inspectorate overturned Lewisham Council’s decision to refuse planning permission.
Lewisham has no commercial cinema. This decision prevents us from attracting an operator to provide the sort of entertainment available in any other part of London. The planning inspector actually agreed with the Council but still overturned our decision.
The Planning Inspectorate issued their decision on 23 September 2005.