A nightclub owner has been charged with unauthorised demolition work at a historic former cinema.

Franco Lumba is accused of carrying out the alterations to the former Gala Bingo Hall in Richmond Road, Kingston, between July 24 and October 26, 2010.

The 44-year-old, who runs the Essence nightclub near Kingston Bridge, bought the freehold in 2010.

The sale sparked fears the building would be turned into a third major town centre nightclub, and concerned north Kingston residents gathered 800-signatures on a petition against the idea.

Last September, the council’s licensing committee threw out an application to turn it into an arena with a late-night alcohol licence.

An appeal will be heard by Richmond magistrates in April.

Designed by Robert Cromie, the building started life as the Regal cinema in 1932.

It had 2,433 seats plus stage facilities, a Wurlitzer organ and a cafe with sprung floors for tea dances.

Changes in ownership saw it renamed the Union in 1937, the ABC in 1938 and the Regal again in 1939, before it reverted back to the ABC again in 1960.

The cinema closed in 1976 when it was reborn as a bingo hall, and gained grade II listed status in June 2004.

A summary of its importance on Kingston Council’s website said: “[It is] included as an early and well-preserved example of an art deco cinema from the 1930s, and a good, rare example of the work of a major cinema architect, Robert Cromie.

“Many of Cromie’s designs were for Davies or Union cinemas, and consequently do not survive.”

Mr Lumba, who lives in St Margarets Road, Twickenham, will appear at Richmond Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 13.

He is charged with executing work for the alteration of a listed building of special architectural or historical interest not authorised under section 8 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.