Rye Lane in Peckham remains closed to traffic and pedestrians after Southwark Council declared a building at the site "potentially dangerous." The structure, believed to be the Tower Cinema Gateway on Rye Lane, dates back to 1914 and has stood since the cinema itself closed permanently in 1956.
The road has been shut since the night of Thursday, September 3, with the Metropolitan Police on scene to stop motorists and members of the public from accessing the area. The council is currently carrying out a structural assessment of the building, though no details have yet been confirmed regarding the specific safety concerns.
Road closure and diversions in place
Traffic diversions have been put in place, and several bus routes are being rerouted via Peckham High Road. The affected services include the 36, 136, 171, 436, N89, N136 and N171 towards Camberwell.
MyLondon received reports of a large police presence at the building just after 10pm on Thursday, September 3. The closure has been in place since last night and remains in effect, with no confirmed reopening time.
Council statement on the incident
A Southwark Council spokesperson said: "Rye Lane in Peckham is currently closed because of a potentially dangerous structure at the former cinema site at 114-116 Rye Lane."
"Traffic diversions are in place and further investigation, including a structural assessment, is underway. At this stage we do not have an update on when the road will reopen," the spokesperson added.
History of the Tower Cinema Gateway
The Tower Cinema Gateway was originally designed in 1914, with the tower serving as a reminder of the era after the venue closed permanently in 1956. The auditorium was later demolished and replaced by the Choumert Grove Car Park, which is operated by Southwark Council, while the remaining tower structure was used as an entrance from the High Street into the car park.
The Met Police have been contacted for comment on their involvement in the incident. The council said it would provide further updates on the road closure in the near future, and a structural assessment is due to be carried out to ensure road users can return to their normal routes shortly.
