I’m sure many of the AW will be aware of the Stables. For any that aren’t, the actual previous stables of John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, it is one of the most civilised, artist and patron friendly music venues in the country, staging hundreds of gigs and other events every year. Builders have been encroaching for a few years, and now it’s under direct threat.
A previous petition to the Council seemed to have got it an exemption from future residents complaints, but somehow the Builders have ignored or bypassed it, so another petition has been got up.
Please do it a favour and stop it going the same way of many other small music venues, it really doesn’t deserve it. Thanks.
LT
PS I have no connection to the Stables, other than being a regular gig attendee there. Even now I live in Hong Kong, I still travel 6000 miles a couple of times a year to see my favourite bands there. That’s how good it is!
Save The Stables please
by 15 Comments
I’d be happy to but clicking on the link brings up an error message
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-stables seems to work. Or just type “Stables” into the search box on the site
Signed. The link didn’t work for me but here is a link that works – https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-stables
Already signed up as a regular gig goer there. I’m going to download the letter off their website too.
Best approach is to sign the petition and then download the form letter from The Stables own website and send it directly to Milton Keynes Council’s planning department.
My Musicians Union contact Rick Finlay has been informed and the MU are canvassing support from their members.
Background:
Abbey Homes were granted planning permission for new housing adjoining the site with the provisos that 1). they had to provide acoustic fencing between their development and the venue and 2). the glazing on the new houses would have to be to a higher than usual noise attenuation standard. They were also required to make it a condition of sale of the properties that no claims for noise (at the current levels) could be made by eventual householders.
Instead of agreeing to these conditions and going ahead with the original development, Abbey have made a fresh request for permission for a reduced number of dwellings but with no mention of these restrictions.
Here’s the link to the Stables page with the letter to download. Takes a few seconds to fill in the gaps.
https://stables.org/news/the-developers-are-back
Sorry all, apparently even my cut and paste skills aren’t up to the task.
Thanks for supplying a workable link. And thanks for signing.
Just signed. The Stables was a local(ish) venue for us for most of the 90s, lovely venue although I have to say I preferred it in its original more ‘rustic’ form before its redevelopment, back when it really was in the old stable block, which I think is now the bar if I remember correctly.
Thanks to all those who have already signed. Being a MK resident and patron of this wonderful venue, not surprisingly it means a lot to me. Hopefully the council will see sense. By the looks of things there has been a good response in terms of protests so far .. every little helps.
Mrs Japanese and I went to a couple of comedy gigs – Marcus Brigstocke and Susan Calman – when we resided in the area. It’s the kind of venue I enjoy going to.
Petition signed.
This situation where an existing venue comes under threat when a new development is built next to it is happening more and more. There have been several cases in London in particular. The government has adopted the Agent of Change principle whereby it is up to developers to build into their design whatever is needed (adequate soundproofing for example) to allow them to exist alongside existing premises rather than to put the onus on those premises. It’s a move in the right direction but still very open to interpretation and also needs to be adopted at local level. This case is a perfect example. Why on earth should an existing business which is entirely compliant with the law and environmental health requirements now be put under threat through no fault of its own by a new development built fully in the knowledge that the venue is there? https://www.citymetric.com/business/uk-planning-system-finally-recognises-agent-change-principle-so-now-what-4301
Unfortunately, the developers are prepared to throw money at getting the planning decisions that they want and the planning authorities are unable to match that spending as they just don’t have the money.
Local authorities are also under increasing pressure from central government to facilitate new “affordable” housing. Affordable by people who are in a position to buy, that is. Social housing for rent is still a very low priority and the capping of housing benefit means the available funds for development by housing trusts are limited.
Hopefully, now that The Star in Guildford has successfully fought off spurious noise complaints, The Stables will find it easier to fight this planning application.
I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere else on the Blog, but in the past month another top Midlands UK music venue, The Leamington Assembly, has closed The day it was announced it was ‘with immediate effect’. So there’s another one gone.
Another reason to save the Stables ! 21279 signatures achieved so far, let’s hope it was enough.
It appears that Milton Keynes Council’s planning officers are recommending that the latest planning application by Abbey Homes for their housing development adjacent to the Stables site should be approved without the need for a Deed Of Easement to be included. Approval on these terms means the venue’s legal protection from future noise complaints would be removed.
Naturally, The Stables are not happy about that recommendation and they and their local supporters will be attending the next meeting of the council’s Development Control Committee on August 1st. at 7:00pm, at which that recommendation will be considered. The meeting is open to the public and anyone interested in doing so may attend.