News Shopper ensures old cinema is made safe

6:14pm Monday 26th November 2001

SAFETY work is being carried out on Sidcup's former cinema to protect it from vandals.

The work comes as a result of the front page story of last week's News Shopper.

Bexley Council's building control officers took immediate action following claims security at the former ABC building, in Sidcup High Street, was not good enough to stop people breaking in.

Since it closed, there have been at least two fires in the former cinema and an illegal rave.

People have also claimed children were getting into the building and vagrants were sleeping there.

Both the police and the fire brigade expressed concerns to the News Shopper that the situation could end in tragedy if nothing was done.

As a result, Bexley Council's head of building control, Adrian Cole, contacted the owners and the police last week.

Last Thursday, he met a crime prevention officer from Bexleyheath police station, the building's owners and an officer from Sidcup fire station. They did a tour of the outside of the building to check security.

With the approval of the emergency services, the company has agreed to install rolls of barbed wire on top of the fencing down the side of the building and reinforce some of the fencing.

It will also change the padlocks on the front of the building and brick up some of the accesses.

“As far as possible, this should secure the building from possible break-ins,” said Mr Cole. “If there is a risk to the public which is brought to our attention, my department will respond to it.”

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