13 October 2011
Save our club Club 20:20 Project

Save Our Club update

by Lucy
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We did it! Southwark Council’s planning committee has refused the planning application for the Oakmayne tower block. This means that the scheme cannot proceed without major changes. Ministry of Sound is working towards a new vision for the site that addresses the needs of the Elephant & Castle community whilst protecting the jobs of our 200 employees and the future of our club, record label, events and media businesses.

Lohan Presencer, CEO Ministry of Sound Group, said:
 
“A huge thank you to the 26,000 plus people who signed the petition. Last night the Planning Committee showed why local democracy matters to this country.”

TAGS: Save Our Club, Lohan Presencer, Southwark Council, Oakmayne

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12 October 2011
Save our club Club 20:20 Project

YOU SAVED OUR CLUB!!!

by Lucy
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Ministry of Sound is today reflecting on the decision made by the London Borough of Southwark’s Planning Committee whose members voted overwhelmingly last night to reject an application for planning permission for Eileen House.  Had this application been approved, the impact upon Ministry of Sound's business would have been catastrophic and resulted in our closure.

Five committee members voted to reject the application and there was one abstention. There were no supporters. We at Ministry of Sound have always maintained that this application fell short on so many grounds and the overwhelming nature of the rejection raises serious questions as to why Southwark's Planning Officers saw fit to recommend approval in the first place.

Ministry of Sound is delighted with the decision as are the 200 people who work here, the 300,000 plus people who visit the club annually and the local businesses including pubs, taxi firms and takeaway shops who all depend on the trade from the huge number of people the club attracts to the area each year.

Lohan Presencer, our CEO, said this morning:

"A huge thank you to the 25,000 plus people who signed the petition. Last night the Planning Committee showed why local democracy matters to this country.   

“We are incredibly pleased that committee members have applied proper scrutiny to all the aspects of the application and its relation to planning policy.

“Members have arrived at the correct decision and now is the time for all concerned to come together to find a positive vision for the regeneration of the Elephant and Castle. Ministry of Sound wants to play a key part in this.

"Ministry will today write to the Developer Christopher Allen to invite him to talks about the future of the Eileen House. The needs of the people of Southwark, the potential for an alternative vision for that site – these will be top of the agenda.  Embryonic alternative plans, which have been drawn up with world leading architects Marks Barfield, will now be explored further.

“I’m delighted that the jobs of the 200 people we employ at out headquarters in Elephant & Castle have been saved. We do some great community work and its fantastic that we get the chance to continue to be the beating heart of Southwark.

“We always maintained that this was the wrong development in the wrong place, not just because of the catastrophic implications it would have had for our business, but because it was wrong in every way for the people of Southwark.”  

TAGS: Save Our Club, Lohan Presencer, Southwark Council, Oakmayne

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13 September 2011
Save our club

STOP PRESS: Save Our Club update

by Lucy
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STOP PRESS. We have just been informed that tonight's crucial council planning meeting to decide the fate of Ministry of Sound club has been postponed. We are not yet sure why.

To date our online petition to Save Our Club has had well over 23,000 signatures and support from some of the biggest names in the dance music industry, including Armin van Buuren, Pete Tong, Above and Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Gareth Emery, Michael Woods, Mark Knight, Toolroom Records, South West Four, Global Underground, The Gallery, DJmag, Mixmag and many more, as well as artists including McFly, Example and Wretch 32.

Most importantly of all, we've received thousands of messages of support from YOU, our loyal friends and fans. Thanks to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU for your continued support as the campaign goes on. We wish we could reply to you all personally, but please rest assured that we see every single one of you adding your names to the petition, tweeting your support and writing to us on Facebook.

The next council planning meeting date is 11th October - that's 27 days away - and until then, the petition continues! Please continue to spread the word and sign the petition and we will update you as soon as we have more news.

Click here to sign the petition.

Listen to Ministry of Sound's CEO Lohan Presencer being interviewed about the campaign this morning by Vanessa Feltz on BBC London 94.9FM.

Ministry of Sound CEO Lohan Presencer Save Our Club interview on BBC London 94.9FM by Ministry of Sound

TAGS: Save Our Club, Lohan Presencer, BBC London 94.9FM

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31 August 2011
20:20 Project Save our club Club

Save Our Club interview with Ministry of Sound CEO Lohan Presencer

by Lucy
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On September 13th 2011 our local borough council will effectively decide the fate of Ministry of Sound club's future if they approve plans submitted by property developer Oakmayne to develop a residential block directly across the road from the venue.

At the time of writing we've had nearly 20,000 signatures on our online petition to Save Our Club - (www.ministryofsound.com/saveourclub) - and this morning Ministry of Sound CEO Lohan Presencer was interviewed by Paul Ross on BBC London Radio. Listen back below to find out more about the campaign and exactly what we're fighting for!

BBC London interview with Ministry of Sound CEO Lohan Presencer by Ministry of Sound

TAGS: Save Our Club, Lohan Presencer, BBC London Radio, Paul Ross

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