London Borough of Bexley

Cllr TERESA O’NEILL OBE, LEADER OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY

It’s been over a decade since the old Blockbusters shop closed, and for 7 years the site sat empty, unused, becoming an eyesore at a prominent location, where everyone coming to Sidcup passes.

We bought the site in 2017, and then the hard work began. Sadly, Linda passed away earlier this year, but I know how proud she was of this project and of all the work to create the BID and the campaign to bring Waitrose to the town which Linda worked hard to bring about.

Cllr Craske has been joined by Cllr Cafer Munur as Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth and both, as Sidcup residents, believe the cinema will be hugely popular, especially as it will offer something different to the multiplexes nearby, and that the library will flourish in its new home at a pivotal location, showcasing what libraries can offer local people. We have already welcomed over 5,000 new Library members in the last few months, so this number should increase further once the new site opens.

This has been a long term project with a long term vision, one that will increase footfall across Sidcup, and it’s one that in years to come people will be able to see what a transformative impact it has had.

#MakingBexleyEvenBetter

Rather than sitting by and waiting for something to happen, the Council came up with an idea - buy the site, and turn it into a new home for the library and a new cinema.

Of course having the idea is one thing, turning it into a reality is something different - but as residents can see for themselves, construction work is reaching the end, and in the coming months we will be able to open the doors.

All regeneration projects take a while to deliver in full, and it is not always plain sailing, especially when the covid pandemic brought everything to a sudden halt.

But I won’t forget the enthusiasm that my Cabinet colleagues, Cllrs Linda Bailey and Peter Craske, showed when they first discussed the plans, championing it as a key way to rejuvenate that part of the town, as the impact the cinema will have in attracting people into the town centre in the evening will transform the nighttime economy and bring something new to Sidcup and give the library a high quality home, designed for 2022 and beyond.