FURIOUS residents' groups and an MP claim a council is steam-rollering through plans for the restoration of a derelict cinema.

The Coronet Cinema, Well Hall Road, Eltham, showed its last film seven years ago and has since remained unused.

Cathedral Group has put forward an amended application which would see the development of a children's play centre in the auditorium, five new ground-floor shop units and 24 flats.

The company put forward its original £5m application in January.

Greenwich Council has given residents 14 days to object to the new proposals.

Eltham's Page Estate Residents' Association is one of seven groups concerned about the development of retail units.

Chairman Phil Russell said: "There are already lots of empty shops in Tudor Parade adjacent to the site.

"It would be more advantageous to have extra flats on the ground floor."

Eltham MP Clive Efford is concerned about the short consultation period and says the council is rushing through the plans.

Last June, Cathedral Group received planning consent for another application to develop the Grade II Listed building but the Planning Inspectorate suspended the decision after residents objected.

Mr Efford said: "The developer's plans for the site remain controversial in the eyes of many residents.

"Fourteen days restricts their opportunity to formulate their arguments.

"I think it's disgraceful Greenwich Council would restrict the consultation period bearing in mind previous opposition."

Cathedral Group development manager Hanne Puttonen says the shop units will help regenerate the area.

She says the empty shops on Tudor Parade are not attractive to prospective businesses and the development plans would help boost the area.

A council spokesman said: "The 14-day consultation period is normal where the changes proposed are of a minor nature and where a full consultation process has already been carried out on the original submission."

Greenwich Council's planning board will make a decision on the application tomorrow.