A Bromley community group wishes to protect an Art Deco building and promote culture in the borough after a cinema closure.

The team feels that the loss has left the area at risk of becoming a ‘cultural wasteland’.

The initiative comes after the Arts Picturehouse cinema on Bromley High Street closed on August 1.

The news sparked a strong local reaction, including the creation of a petition to save the cinema receiving over 5,600 signatures and a community group named Save Bromley Picturehouse.

Following the closure, the group rebranded itself as Arts Cinema Bromley, aimed at uniting film lovers in the area and promoting arthouse cinema.

Rob Carrick, 47, chair of Arts Cinema Bromley, said: “I think there was this bit where we recognised that we’re losing the cinema but we’re not losing the community.”

Mr Carrick said one of the aims of the group is to preserve the cinema’s iconic building, which dates back to 1936 and features Art Deco elements from architect George Coles.

Bromley councillors have previously expressed their intentions to try to retain the structure.

Conservative Councillor Alexa Michael suggested at a Bromley Council meeting on July 15 that the building could be incorporated into the local conservation area, while council leader Colin Smith claimed the structure had some planning protection as a locally listed building.

Labour Councillor Alisa Igoe said she would like to see the space retained as a cultural arts centre.

Cllr Igoe said: “We are possibly in danger of becoming a cultural wasteland in Bromley if the council does not attempt to keep some of these cultural and arts buildings working within Bromley.”

Mr Carrick said Arts Cinema Bromley came about organically following the passion for the Picturehouse branch, and the reaction to the initiative has been ‘unexpected’. He said the support has highlighted that the borough has a desire to appreciate less mainstream movies.

He said: “We can’t solve the lack of that cultural side of things in Bromley but we can contribute to pulling some of it back.

"What we have recognised is it’s not that the loss of the Picturehouse has left a gap in the market because it was always there.”

The local said the group also presents an opportunity for filmmakers to come together and showcase local projects.

He said he would personally like to have a small site in the town centre with two screens showing select films to the community, but that the committee is also looking into collaborating with social care groups and local charities to do dementia-friendly screenings in care homes and retirement apartments.

Mr Carrick said: “At some point in the not too distant future, we want to have a screening of a film where we have people turn up, pay for a ticket and come and watch it. enjoy it and see what this is about.”

He added: “I definitely think there is a need for it. I definitely think people want something like that, and they recognise the losses from being able to go [to the Picturehouse] and with the right publicity and the right support behind it, we could really offer something to Bromley that it doesn’t currently have.”