HAVE THE AUTHORITIES GONE TOO FAR?

In the last 5 years, we’ve had news story after news story on club and venue closures across the UK. Turnmills is gone, The Cross (and a number of other Kings Cross clubs) closed, The End closed its doors for the last time in January 2009, SeOne just closed its doors, and Ministry of Sound is threatened to close due to new planning permission to build a large housing block just opposite. GLADE just announced its cancellation this year too after policing issues struck them hard. Then there’s the historical ‘Astoria’ on Charing Cross Road and a number of other condemned music venues across the UK (either closed down or taken over by corporate giants- either way, a death!). It sure has been a sad few years for venues and clubs in the UK.

Whilst it has been a bad 5 years for some of these clubs, we have however seen a boom in small bars/clubs/venues opening across the UK. Think TBar and Corsica Studios. Smaller Capacity clubs and venues are easier to handle, and of course fill on a regular basis- compared to that of say SE-One, a large space which had struggled to attract the numbers week in and week out to stay afloat financially. The Ministry of Sound recently has been threatened due to a property developers planning permission to build a block opposite the club to house 1000+ people. Any complaint here could mean MoS to be considered a ‘Public Nuisance’ and would warrant the review of their license. It is a sad sad world we live in when money-driven property developers are allowed to do this kind of thing and show so little care for their surroundings and community.

“nightclubs come and go” (What ‘Oakmayne’ property developers said about MoS)

In response Ministry Of Sound Group’s CEO Lohan Presenscer issued the following statement: “When Oakmayne told us that “nightclubs come and go”, we were horrified. Ministry of Sound is not just any nightclub; it’s the most famous nightclub in the world and the heart of a global entertainment business. These developers have cut corners at every stage and counter to their claims, they do not have the best interests of the local community at heart.  We must do everything in our power to save our club and our business.” Could not have worded it better myself.

Its not just a business and money struggle though. Local Authorities (Councils) are implementing tougher restrictions than ever before. Police are demanding a heavier police presence than ever before on our streets (and especially at festivals). Local Authorities are become ‘lazy’ at dealing with the real problems at hand and Noise Teams are implementing ridiculously low noise conditions so they don’t have to leave the comfort of their own homes to help manage the problem at hand. It truly is a terrible state of affairs we live in. It seems that a simple complaint these days is translated into ‘something MUST be wrong, they MUST be doing something illegal, lets nick ‘em for it’.

What ever happened to giving people a chance?

Perhaps the Authorities aren’t all to blame. As David Cameron and Nick Clegg seem to put it, we have ‘deep social’ issues, and I am beginning to believe that this is true. An innocent clubber is never too far from a machete wielding maniac, we need more police on our streets. Drugs are the norm in our clubs but there’s such thing as going too far though right? Especially when buying drugs is pretty much supporting a massive underworld of guns, crime, murders, extortion and modern day slavery. Rogue warehouse promoters creating so much noise that they’re shaking the neighbors houses well past midnight (11pm is actually considered the ‘late night entertainment’ watershed as far as licensing goes). Surely there’s a time and place for this sort of thing and other peoples feelings need to be considered? You can see where I am going with this. The club scene isn’t always so innocent and people who think it is, I hope you’re reading this. Club owners and clubbers a like aren’t always filled with good intentions. Don’t get me wrong, I am not supporting the Authorities, but just think about this one a bit more before we go head on with them all!

We need nightclubs, we need music venues, we need entertainment. These are all things that have been with us for at least the past 100 years. They bring people together, and bring us a little joy in a time where everything seems to be going tits up!

Sign The MoS Petition;

http://www.ministryofsound.com/Petitions/PetitionForm.aspx

HATESY. Kiss My Deck x