Protest over heritage buildings

The protest will take place outside Hackney town hall

Campaigners fighting to save some of east London's old buildings are to put their case to Hackney Council.

They want to stop the demolition of a Victorian theatre and Georgian townhouses at 4-12 Dalston Lane.

The 2.2-acre site owned by the council is seen as prime development land thanks to the 2012 Olympics and the East London Line extension.

Protesters will argue their case before the council's planning committee, who will discuss the site on Monday.

The buildings have been owned by Hackney Council since 1977, but have fallen into disrepair.

Bill Parry-Davies, chairman of local action group Open, said: "The theatre's scandalous state of disrepair typifies the neglect of Dalston as a whole.

"In an area that boasts incredible cultural innovation, potential and diversity, Dalston Lane has been allowed to become a forgotten wasteland."

There are regeneration plans for Dalston, which include new homes, shops, a public square and a library.

The protest will take place from 1830 BST on Monday outside Hackney Town Hall.