In a gloomy, stuffy, Wandsworth Council Committee room, the Planning Committee work through a fairly packed agenda of various planning applications, be they for a loft extension or a major development which will change the lives of many Wandsworth residents.

On the evening of July 3rd, the hopes of many, many Southfields residents and the sterling work of the Southfields Plaza Group were dashed by a majority of one vote at a Planning Committee meeting.

Rob Richman, a local resident, walked past the one-time Plaza cinema (latterly Riley’s Snooker Hall) three years ago and was struck by an inspirational possibility.

He has now come to the end of a valiant, extremely well supported, but exhausting campaign, which was ultimately unsuccessful, as cynics had warned.

The aim of the Southfields Plaza Group set up by Rob was: "A campaign to ensure the former Plaza Cinema in Southfields, SW18 retains its planning use and that a landmark cinema and theatre complex is created for the community."

The plans put forward by the Plaza Group would have offered Southfields a wonderful range of facilities and a true community hub.

In addition to the proposed cinema, there would be a great performance space for school children, where they could learn many theatre skills and delight their parents by staging their plays and musicals in a purpose built space.

The proposals set Southfields alight with enthusiasm, public meetings were packed to the rafters and it was impossible to find anyone who did not want Rob's vision to come true. Support was pledged both from Southfields Councillors and the Tory Putney MP, Justine Greening.

In the event, one of the Southfields Councillors made a valiant effort to ensure that the application by the property developer was knocked out and that the leisure use of the site should be fully maintained.

Guy Humphries, a Tory, was supported effectively by Councillor Tony Belton, Labour, who challenged the Planning Committee to do their job and use their powers to insist that the leisure facilities offered by the site in the past were maintained or improved.

These two Councillors were cheered from the public gallery by local residents, who still hoped that the Southfields Plaza Group's plans would go ahead. Instead, the Planning Committee decided to consent to the property developer's application, to develop the site as flats and a retail outlet.

To address the issue of loss of leisure facilities, there is a proposal that either a small health club or a little cinema should be included.

Without Rob's campaign for a proper, and beautiful community facility, even this small concession would probably not have been made.

Southfields residents have been extremely supportive of Rob's plans, and he can hold his head high despite the decision of Wandsworth's Planning Committee.

With a couple of noble exceptions, this group of elected representatives from across the borough proved to be a body of approval stampers for a major property developer, much against the wishes and hopes of local people.

Jackie Pearce, Southfields Plaza Campaign