Picture Perfect?

Written by Mike Tuffrey and published in Municipal Journal on Fri 31st Oct 2003

London is home to almost 100 cinemas - ranging from the tiny clock tower in Croydon to the massive 14 screen multiplex in Newham. Cinema-goers in the capital enjoy the best choice of films in the UK and admissions are higher than they have been for 30 years. Going to the cinema is Londoners' favourite cultural activity, with sixty-five per cent of us visiting a cinema at least once a year.

The London Assembly Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee, of which I am a member, has just completed a detailed scrutiny of cinemas in the capital and our report entitled Picture Perfect? has now been published. Our aim was to map provision across London, identify the gaps and assess what role the Mayor, the London Development Agency, local authorities and film bodies could play in the expanding cinema choice and improving access throughout the capital.

Our investigation found that more than a third of London's cinemas are concentrated right in the centre of the capital. Not every Londoner is lucky enough to have a cinema nearby provision outside the West End is very patchy. Residents of Westminster for example, have 72 screens to pick from but those living in Lewisham or Waltham Forest have none whatsoever. Access in 13 London boroughs is below the national average and the pattern of closures over the last eighteen months (including Catford ABC, Greenwich High Street, Kingston ABC and Walthamstow EMD) is cause for concern.

So why does this matter? Why should local authorities care? Well, both the Mayor and local authorities would be well advised to take note of the considerable economic and regenerative benefits which local cinemas bring. In many cases the local cinema helps to sustain otherwise struggling town centres - breathing life into high- streets and making them safer into the bargain, particularly in the evening. The London Assembly report also highlights the "multiplier effect" on local businesses - especially in the retail and catering sectors, with many people combining a visit to the cinema with a shopping trip or a meal out.

Cinema is enjoyed by millions of us - 147million tickets were sold in 2002 across the UK. As well as the obvious economic benefits this brings, there are significant social and cultural spin-offs which might not immediately spring to mind. Cinemas can help to promote cultural diversity. 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, including for example foreign language films and special film seasons. Cinema is a powerful medium of cultural understanding which should be accessible to all Londoners, not just to those who are lucky enough to have a cinema nearby or those able to travel into the West End.

Visiting the cinema is much more than simply watching a film. Many smaller cinemas are reaping the rewards of diversification by offering a unique cultural experience. Bars, cafes and even galleries are becoming commonplace in many smaller cinema venues. Private screenings by young and upcoming film directors have also become popular, with some cinemas linking up with local schools and colleges to provide educational programmes. With the right approach, local cinemas can become the focus for community activity, something which local authority cultural strategies should encourage and support.

Sadly, the wider benefits of cinemas are sometimes only realised when it's too late and facilities have closed. During our scrutiny investigation, the organisation Film London noted several instances where cinemas had closed and boroughs had later regretted the loss of those facilities. We would like to see the balance redressed and our report urges boroughs to pinpoint gaps in cinema provision and identify possible sites for new cinemas within their Unitary Development Plans.

London can be proud of its rich cinematic heritage. Overall, provision outstrips New York. Visitors to the West End are spoilt for choice but provision elsewhere is patchy at best. However, through careful planning and greater joint working, communities in all corners of the capital could enjoy the very reel benefits which cinemas have to offer.