Recording studio faces demolition

Musicians call for band aid

MUSIC lovers are calling on the council to save Lancaster's unique Musician's Co-op from being bulldozed. Fears are mounting that the rehearsal rooms and studio in Lodge Street may be swallowed- up in the redevelopment of the canal corridor and brewery site. There is no clear indication yet whether the proposals by Chelverton for 'big box' retail units. will eventually include the council-owned co-op site. But worried councillors and co-op workers are already preparing to defend what they say are key cultural facilities.

"We're not talking about sit- ting in front of bulldozers yet," said Tom Myall from the co-op. "But We do want to raise our profile and let people know how important the co-op is."

Green party councillors are also backing calls for the co-op to be spared. Coun Jon Barry said: "Places like the musician's co-op are part of the fabric of what makes Lancaster special. In recent months we have seen the Navigation reduced to rubble and I would hate to see the co-op go the same way.

"The co-op is the only venue that provides rehearsal and recording equipment for bands in the district."

The co-op has been running for 17 years as a non-profit organisation. Between 500 and 600 people a week use its rehearsal rooms and studio facilities - regularly hired by everyone from the BBC to bands from Glasgow and London - and a new website has had 4,000 'hits' in its first few weeks.

Tom said: "This is a safe environment for young people to play with their band, it's better than making a racket at home or in some dodgy unit on an industrial estate, and because we run it as a co-operative the rates are very cheap. "We were pleased when the council said this would be a 'cultural quarter' because we thought we'd fit in well with that brief, but now there's talk of retail units the future isn't as clear, although there's still no reason why we can't continue."

Tom and his partners lan Dicken and Dave Blackwell would like to develop the co-op if they can re-negotiate their lease on the building.

"At the moment we are on a very short lease but if we are allowed to stay we already have plans drawn up to improve the building and the facilities," explains Dave.