THE council is unable to take immediate action to bring a derelict former cinema back into use, a spokesman has said.

Following a Guardian story about council plans to acquire the Sainsbury's building on Walthamstow High Street several readers questioned why the former Dominion Cinema building, in nearby Buxton Road, has been unused since the mid 90s.

The building's windows are boarded up, apart from one which is smashed, and there are several graffiti 'tags' spray-painted on its walls.

One contributor said: “Further down the high street the empty former Dominion Cinema in Buxton Road languishes abandoned and forlorn - and resolutely ignored by the council.”

But the property, which until 1996 was a Mecca Bingo Club, operated by a company called Jasmine, is owned by American firm Chelsea Corporation.

A council spokesman said the authority has issued a number of notices on the owners to tidy up the property as there has been flytipping on the premises.

He said: “Unfortunately the owners have not responded and the council has followed up on the required work at its own expense.

“Given that the property is privately owned, structurally sound and does not represent a risk to public health the council is unable to take any immediate action, though further options are currently being explored.”

The high-profile former EMD cinema on nearby Hoe Street, which is Grade II listed, has been the focus of controversy since it was purchased by the evangelical United Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).

The building has remained empty for a number of years and local campaigners have called for it to be re-opened as a cinema, but UCKG hopes to convert it into a place of worship and community space.

But the plight of the Dominion building, which has been empty for 14 years, has gone largely unnoticed.

Cllr James O'Rourke, High Street Liberal Democrat councillor, said: “It has been under the radar, unlike the EMD, but of course we want to see it used.”

Cllr O'Rourke said there have been discussions about compulsory purchasing the site, but these have not progressed very far.

According to the Cinema Treasures website, which describes the history of cinema buildings, the first cinema opened on the Buxton Road site in 1909.

This was demolished and the Dominion built 21 years later.