I would be very surprised if they print my right to reply to all this talk of cinemas instead of venues because it is helluva long. So... I have known Dan James at the White Rabbit for a long time. His hard work and perseverance to provide a home to sub-cultural independent music has been they key to the venues continued success. Not only with alternative rock, punk, and metal fans (seemingly the most vocal so far), but with a huge cross section of music over the years from top DnB Djs, to Finlay Quaye, and even Stooshie (apparently they were a pop group). The venue also hosts international student nights, LGBT nights and fundraising events. Its remit is, and always has been, to provide a great venue to celebrate independent and subcultural acts and events. Having said that, I would like to reiterate Dans comments in the article that there is not one among us, as customers and regulars of White Rabbit, who would turn down the opportunity for a better venue. Somewhere with scope to increase the draw and desirability of Plymouth as a venue for a broader range of national and international musicians to want to visit. Nor do I dispute the fact that Bretonside is an awful way to introduce visitors to Plymouth and needs to be dealt with if Plymouth is to increase its reputation and attractiveness as a quality destination. Plymouth has long been in need of regeneration and almost 70 years after Abercrombie and Paton-Watson unveiled their Plan For Plymouth, there are vast swathes of the city centre that need to be entirely rethought and transformed. (On that note, surely the council would have done better to wait until 27th April to publish their proposals and mark the 70th anniversary properly?) What worries me deeply with these plans is the effect that they will have on Plymouths cultural future and more specifically the Councils seemingly blind attitude towards it. This is something that was completely missing from the article. After applying to be the UKs city of culture for 2017 and failing is their answer to simply give up and just put a Multiplex cinema in place of anything resembling individuality, artistic integrity and ingenuity? The article in the herald spoke, I feel, overwhelmingly well about the plans for Mayflower West, and of the campaign to ensure the White Rabbits survival. What it failed to mention at all was that at the heart of this proposal is to put a potential third multiplex cinema into our city. With Vue on the Barbican leisure park, and the proposed IMAX at Home Park, as well as the small Reel Cinema, this would amount to close to 40 cinema screens showing the biggest action blockbusters and, lets fact it, little else. In a city the size of London or Birmingham it would be obscene to have 3 huge multiplex cinemas within 2 miles of each other (I google mapped the walking distance, its accurate.) So why would they feel this is a viable option for a relatively small city? The proposals highlight in a way not made explicit before, that the council do not value culture, or perhaps do not even understand what it is. They highlight that anything that does not conform to mainstream stereotypes is disposable and can be dismissed without compassion or understanding. A development like the one proposed would increase rents and rates in the local area, which would likely force out the frankly incredible Plymouth Arts Centre - the ONLY place in Plymouth showing films not released into the major cinema chains. It would only have negative impacts on the Barbican leisure park which would see footfall drop as the cinemas got closer to the town. It also undermines the need for investment in terms of Plymouth as a heritage and cultural city in its own right. We have the Historic Barbican, the Hoe, The Barbican Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, TR2, The Minerva (oldest Pub in Plymouth so they say), Royal William Yard, Union Street, the Palace Theatre project, Youth Club funding. Even our museum cant afford to open on Mondays. This proposal, this shining new cinema, needs to be put out to pasture, and that investment needs to focus on REAL culture. There are now over 3,000 signatures on the petition to Councillor Evans. That is over 3,000 voices not only saying Leave OUR White Rabbit Alone, but saying You are failing to understand the cultural needs and subcultural diversity of this city and you will lose our faith and support if you continue to do so. 3,000 voices, 3,000 votes. Its not a small minority is it?
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:45:25 +0000