Demonstrators who believed they were on the verge of successfully saving the Kensington Odeon cinema from demolition are now fearful the iconic building could be knocked down at any moment.
Thousands of people including a Who’s Who of A-list celebs and entertainment glitterati are opposed to plans to replace the cinema with a new seven-screen Picturehouse Cinema and flats.
The council refused planning permission for a new cinema with 63 luxury units, including a large penthouse and 20 affordable homes in January 2015, but their decision was overturned in February this year by the planning inspectorate following an appeal by developers Minerva-Delancey.
As a result demonstrators gathered to protest outside the cinema in Kensington High Street on Sunday (September 4).
Watch activist Paul Wiffen hit out after handing over the petition to government in 2015
Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristin Scott-Thomas and Sir Ian McKellen, director and writer Richard Curtis, and legendary guitarists Brian May from Queen and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page all put their names to a petition signed by more than 25,000 people last year calling for the Art Deco building to be reprieved.
A group called Friends of the Kensington Odeon was formed and members were confident they would be able to have the cinema, which boasted Alfred Hitchcock and Princess Diana as regular customers, listed as an Asset of Community Value. But a leaflet sent out by developers on Thursday (September 1) said the demolition was expected to commence on Monday (September 5).
As of Wednesday (September 7) morning, work on the cinema had not begun.
Under proposals, the facade of the 1926 building will be retained to some extent but interior gems such as the marble staircase and a mosaic floor in the foyer would be lost .
It appeared the group's efforts had paid off when their proposals to restore the cinema and provide a multi-purpose arts centre - to be known as The Hitchcock, Kensington - was given the support of three billionaire philanthropists.
It meant they could nominate the cinema to be an ACV, but during the summer their nomination was refused by Kensington and Chelsea Council . The administration says this was because the group was unable to show there was a realistic prospect of bringing the building back into use.
However, the council has received a new ACV nomination and is expected to give an answer by October 1. But the Friends hopes have been hit with news the developers intend to push on with the demolition.
Friends of the Kensington Odeon founder Guy Oliver said: “We are in a bit of limbo at the moment.
“We are confident we will get asset of community value status because we have provided everything that the council asked of us.
“But there’s the chance the building will be gone before the council announces its decision on October 1.
“So we’re talking to the developers at the moment, talking to the council, to potential buyers to buy the site, and doing everything we can to save the building.
“It would be immoral to knock down the cinema now, but it wouldn’t be illegal.”
The Odeon petition was handed in to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in August last year.
It comes after the building, which showed its last film on August 31 2015, was put up for sale in 2013 .
Developers had previously said its plans would upgrade the cinema facilities by “delivering a new Picturehouse Cinema with seven state-of-the-art screens, restoring the building’s historic façade and providing a vibrant café, bar and restaurant”.
