Cinema protest

Thursday, 23 April 2009

By Martyn Dolton

PROTESTORS turned out in force on Saturday at a demonstration to save the EMD Cinema.

The historic building is at the heart of a battle between campaigners, who want it kept as a cinema, and the owners Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) who want to convert it into a church.

More than 600 protestors lined up along both sides of Hoe Street and many wore Alfred Hitchcock facemasks to highlight the legendary director's associations with the EMD.

Bill Hodgson, from campaign group the McGuffin Film Society, said he was delighted at the turnout.

He said: “This is one local issue which is not going to go away.

“Many residents feel anger and dismay about what is being proposed for the cinema.”

The protest followed a two-day exhibition of the UCKG proposals at St. Gabriel's Church in Havant Road, which was attended by around 100 people.

The Brazil-based church group is hoping to convert the cinema into a place of worship with some additional space available for commercial hire.

A previous scheme to convert the venue to a church was rejected following a government inquiry five years ago.

For more information on the campaign visit www.mcguffin.info or for more details on the UCKG visit www.uckg.org

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