THE woman hoping to win the Walthamstow seat for Labour at the next general election has called on her political rivals to state their position on the future of the EMD cinema building.

Stella Creasy has written to the council's planning officers to ask the authority to turn down plans to convert the cinema building, in Hoe Street, into a church.

She said: “As a long standing supporter of the campaign to save Walthamstow’s cinema I hope by being so public about my views I can encourage my opponents to finally speak up on this key issue for Walthamstow’s Town Centre.

“Walthamstow needs a cinema and it needs the jobs a night time economy would bring.

The EMD building is owned by The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) which has submitted plans for a development including a cafe, shops, flats and a church.

Residents wanting to have their say on the plans have until Friday (25) to submit their opinions to the council.