A trip down memory lane

Written by Graham Tope and published in North West London newspaper group on Wed 12th Nov 2003

With everything from the tiny art-house cinemas in the West End to huge multiplexes in retail parks on the edge of London, the capital would seem to have an abundance of cinemas.

However over the years, many treasured local cinemas have closed - on a recent trip to Purley in South London I was sad to find that the picture house where I had spent many happy evenings as a youth was no longer there.

London may be home to almost 100 cinemas, but a recent investigation by the London Assembly Culture, Sport and tourism committee found that a third of these are concentrated in the centre of the capital.

Residents of Westminster have 72 screens to pick from, while boroughs such as Brent or Hillingdon have below the national average. Waltham Forest, birthplace of one of our greatest filmmakers, Alfred Hitchcock, has no cinemas at all.

Going to the cinema is Londoners' favourite cultural activity, with 65 per cent of us visiting a cinema at least once a year. It should be a pleasure available to all of us, not just to those who are lucky enough to have a cinema nearby or those able to travel into the West End.

A wider selection of films would also be a welcome change. In a cosmopolitan city like London, film choice should extend beyond just screen after screen of Hollywood blockbusters. The diverse ethnic mix of local communities in London should be reflected in the cinema schedules on offer.

There are other benefits to having a thriving, well-attended local cinema. A visit to the cinema is often combined with a meal at a nearby restaurant, for example. This can help sustain an otherwise struggling town centre - breathing life into the high-street and making it safer into the bargain, particularly in the evening.

With the right approach, cinemas can also become the focus for community activity. Some have linked up with local schools and colleges to provide educational programmes. And visiting the cinema is much more than simply watching a film, with many smaller venues offering bars, cafes and even galleries.

Sadly, the wider benefits of cinemas are sometimes only realised when it's too late and facilities have closed. It is time the boroughs recognised the value cinemas bring to communities and identified possible sites for new cinemas. The Mayor should also tackle the lack of film choice by increasing the profile of London's Film Festival and other events.

Through careful planning and greater co-operation, communities in all corners of the capital could again enjoy the benefits that cinemas have to offer.