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YFA: News
Beverley Picture Playhouse 2005 |
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Patrons: Norma Waterson MBE & Kate Rusby |
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| Beverley Picture Playhouse: update
Background | |||||
Two years ago, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council decided to sell the Picture Playhouse, Market Place, Beverley, as a building surplus to requirements. Prior to that the 300 capacity venue had been the only, and much loved, venue in Beverley, where films, concerts, comedy etc took place. It was also the prime venue for the highly successful Beverley Folk Festival. Musicians (and the public) loved it, despite the poor state the Council had let it get into - smelly drains, seats falling apart etc.
Bids were requested by the Council from potential purchasers / or those wishing to take on the lease of the venue. 7 were picked out of those originally submitted, none of which were for the use of the property as an arts venue, despite at least one bid being submitted for use of the venue for that purpose. The bid made by Weatherspoons was the most likely one to be accepted, but after major local opposition to this, that of Mr David Fletcher, a local building speculator, was accepted. He has already paid the Council a deposit for the building, but a final contract for the sale has not yet been agreed. He submitted an initial planning application to turn the venue into retail outlets. This application was turned down at Committee - no doubt partly due to the 100+ letters of objection submitted. Mr Fletcher has now submitted a revised application, but for the same use - retail outlets. It is now crucial that anyone who knows the venue and wishes to see it brought back to use as an arts venue, writes in immediately to the Council to object to the planning aApplication. There is a major local campaign taking place now with a view to making the Council re-think its plans and look again at the possibility of the Playhouse being turned once again into a dedicated venue for the Arts. You are requested to write in a letter of objection: sample points can be seen at playhouse-05.doc. It is important, however, that anyone writing in drafts their own letter, and does not just copy the sample! The information provided will give some background to the case, and some help in composing your letter. In addition, the letters need to have well thought out reasons for why the Playhouse should not be sold off for shops, and why the planning application for such a use should be refused. Please do write and encourage others to write too. If there are several members of your household, write as individuals, as every opinion and every letter counts. Address your letters to: Head of Planning and Development ControlQuote these reference numbers: DC/05/02282/PLF/EASTSE/SL2 (Change of Use to shops)Letters should be sent by the official deadline of Thursday 6 May but may be accepted after this date. Letters to the Planning Department or for Councillors can be posted or dropped in at County Hall. Copy your letters to your local Councillors -and particularly to each member of the Eastern Area Planning Committee- any time before the meeting, which is scheduled for Monday 23 May (this could change). Attend the meeting if you can. The Planning Committee members are about to change, so do check before writing to them personally. Copy your letters to the local press, give or email a copy of this letter to friends – make your opinions known! Sample letter: playhouse-05.docNeed more information? Want a regular update on the situation? Contact the Beverley Arts Trust now: Phone: 01482 861514 / 01482 886390Thanks for your co-operation.
Beverley Arts Trust, 28 April 2005
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