Tag: Tower Hamlets Council

  • Bethnal Green arts hub at risk of eviction awarded protected status

    Nowhere
    Nowhere arts space on Bethnal Green Road. Photograph: Russell Parton

    A film and community art space in Bethnal Green at risk of losing its home celebrated a ‘huge victory’ after Tower Hamlets Council upheld its legal status as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

    No.w.here, an artist-run space founded in 2004 that runs workshops, discussion groups, screenings and exhibitions, moved to secure ACV status last September after lease negotiations for its home at 316–318 Bethnal Green Road stalled.

    Two appeals to Tower Hamlets Council to overturn the ACV status subsequently failed, with the latest announced on 4 December.

    The ACV status means that No.w.here, which houses film-making equipment unavailable anywhere else in the UK, now has the opportunity to buy the building should the landlord proceed with its plans to sell.

    And if No.w.here does request to make a bid, the landlord must wait until the end of a six month ‘moratorium period’.

    Karen Mirza, who founded No.w.here with fellow artist Brad Butler, said that she respects the landlord’s right to sell the building but that “you can’t just throw someone out of a building as and when you choose to profit from it”.

    However, Mirza added: “The ruling only gives the right to be considered as one of the bids, it doesn’t give us much power and it doesn’t give us much time to raise capital to make a bid.

    “But what it does do is make the buyer recognise that we actually exist, which was not happening before because the landlord was trying to sell with vacant possession.”

    James Holcombe is a filmmaker and head of lab and education at No.w.here. He showed me some of the bespoke equipment at No.w.here, including hulking machines for processing film by hand.

    “There are some countries, such as Spain, where this kind of equipment doesn’t exist anymore and there are no spaces like this,” he said.

    “People fly over for a couple of days, use the equipment and fly back with a suitcase full of film. If you’re interested in chemical film this is your space, but it’s more than just film, it’s a community project, as we have language classes, events and symposia.”

    According to Mirza the type of heavy, industrial equipment used at No.w.here is ideally suited to their current warehouse premises, and moving would undo more than ten years’ work of establishing a community of artists.

    “We house industrial technology that goes back to the mid to late Sixties, and some of our machines weigh ten tonnes.

    “The type of industrial spaces that are there for this type of resource have become fewer and fewer as they’ve been turned in to residential.

    “We’re fighting not only for own rights but for the kinds of spaces that should exist within city centres. Urban spaces shouldn’t just about domestic lifestyles.”

    A petition on Change.org, which has gathered more than 1,000 signatories, seeks to lobby the landlord into renewing the lease of the artist-run space, which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

    www.change.org/organizations/nowhere

  • Saved! Rich Mix is no longer under threat of closure

    Saved... Rich Mix
    Saved… arts organisation Rich Mix

    Rich Mix is no longer at risk of closing down after resolving its long-running financial dispute with Tower Hamlets Council.

    The arts organisation has agreed to repay a £850,000 loan and, in turn, the council has handed over just under £1.6 million owed to Rich Mix under the terms of a planning agreement for a nearby development.

    A statement agreed by Rich Mix and Tower Hamlet dated 25 September reads:

    “Tower Hamlets Council and Rich Mix Cultural Foundation are pleased to announce that they have resolved the disputes between them and have brought an end to the legal proceedings currently in the High Court. The resolution of these disputes secures Rich Mix’s future and will benefit all of its stakeholders, users and the residents of Tower Hamlets.

    “As part of the resolution, Rich Mix has received Section 106 monies agreed by the council’s Strategic Development Committee in August 2010 and has, in turn, agreed to repay the £850,000 loan given by the council to Rich Mix in 2003 and make a payment in respect of certain external costs.”

    In an open letter, Rich Mix Chief Executive Jane Earl thanked the public for their “unfailing support”.

    Since the East End Review first revealed news of the dispute in January, a petition to save Rich Mix on change.org has received 17,424 signatories, with messages of support beamed onto their building in May.

  • Elite architects rally round to save Robin Hood Gardens

    Robin Hood Gardens 620
    Robin Hood Gardens

    Britain’s architectural elite are going head-to-head with Tower Hamlets Council over the planned demolition of a Brutalist-era housing estate.

    The 213-apartment Robin Hood Gardens is set to be set to be razed to the ground to make room for a £500 million redevelopment.

    The dilapidated site in Poplar has a ‘stigma’ attached to it according to some residents.

    But high-profile members of the architectural community, led by Lord Richard Rogers and the Twentieth Century Society, have launched a last-ditch effort to stop the redevelopment which will see the end of Robin Hood Gardens.

    Architects including Robert Venturi, Toyo Ito and Zaha Hadid have rallied round in support of the campaign. Completed in 1972, Robin Hood Gardens was designed around the concept of ‘streets in the sky’ by controversial New Brutalism pioneers Alison and Peter Smithson.

    Centre Pompidou architect Lord Rogers has written to 300 members of the design world asking them to lobby heritage minister Tracey Crouch to give the site listed status, a bid English Heritage rejected in 2009.

    Rogers wrote: “In my opinion, it is the most important social housing development from the post-war era in Britain.

    “Two sculptural slabs of affordable housing create a calm and stress-free place amidst the ongoing modernisation of the London cityscape.”

    Lord Rogers told BBC’s Today programme that he would “absolutely” live on Robin Hood Gardens himself, and has blamed the council for the neglecting the building.

    In 2009, the site was given immunity from heritage listing for five years, a decision the Twentieth Century Society has called “unsound” in a recent report.

    This immunity expired this year, and Tower Hamlets Council has approved demolition and a £500 million redevelopment by Swan Housing Association, which promises 1,575 homes, and a new mosque and community centre.

    The vast concrete blocks have been criticised for a range of flaws in design and maintenance alike.

    Residents have complained of awkward layouts, asbestos and leaky ceilings.

    But Rogers and some residents insist that neglect by council is at fault for the poor upkeep of Robin Hood Gardens.

    Resident Ruman Chowdury, 42, told the Telegraph: “The council just doesn’t maintain the building. The whole area is neglected.”

    The council has said its consultation concluded 80 per cent support for the redevelopment.

    A council spokesperson said: “Redevelopment was the overwhelming preference of the local community.”

  • Save Rich Mix campaign beams messages of support on building

    Projection
    Photograph: Russell Parton

    Endangered arts centre Rich Mix last night beamed messages of support onto the front of its building to draw attention to its financial dispute with Tower Hamlets Council.

    The arts centre is at risk of closing down following council demands that it repay £850,000 in full, a sum given to Rich Mix in 2002 to help it refurbish its premises.

    Rich Mix claims it was never clear whether the sum was a one-off grant or a loan, and that it is not able to cough up the money in one lump sum without having to close.

    Nearly 12,000 people have signed a petition on change.org to help save Rich Mix, and with a High Court case looming, the arts centre last night projected messages of support received so far onto the front of its building.

    A small crowd of well wishers gathered to watch the projection and read statements designed to stir the passions such as: “As an artist I see this place as one of my homes,” and “Supporting the arts supports the entire community.”

    Employees Eileen and Anna were filming the projection. They stand to lose their jobs if Rich Mix closes. “The response has been amazing,” said Eileen, who has only recently moved to London but managed to make friends through her work.

    Rich Mix 2 620
    Photograph: Russell Parton

    The High Court case between Rich Mix and Tower Hamlets Council is set for 20 July, with Rich Mix CEO Jane Earl keen to reach a settlement beforehand.

    “We’d much rather that we settle the case rather than having to spend money on internal and external legal fees,” Earl said.

    Earl told the East End Review in January that Rich Mix has offered to repay the money in instalments. “What we mustn’t do is pay it in a way that will make us go bust,” Earl said.

    However, Earl alleges that Tower Hamlets Council is withholding £1.6 million owed to Rich Mix as part of the planning agreement for a nearby development.

    The agreement saw developer Telford Homes pay over £2 million towards cultural development in the immediate area.

    The council’s Strategic Development Committee decided in 2010 that this money would go to Rich Mix, but the contract drawn up to transfer the money was deemed “unenforceable” by a court due to a lack of firm targets.

  • Petition launched to stop Rich Mix from closing

    Rich Mix
    Rich Mix: at risk of closing

    Rich Mix is in danger of closing down and has launched an urgent petition for support.

    The petition, which gained more than 5,000 signatures in four days, urges Tower Hamlets Council not to proceed with legal action over the repayment of £850,000, given to Rich Mix in 2002 for the refurbishment of its premises at 35-47 Bethnal Green Road.

    If a court hearing, set for 20 July, finds in the council’s favour, Rich Mix could be forced to repay the money in one lump sum instead of in instalments, which according to its CEO Jane Earl has the potential to bankrupt the organisation and force it to close.

    Commenters on the website change.org, which is hosting the petition, have overwhelmingly voiced their support for Rich Mix.

    Londoner Michael Dollan said: “Rich Mix is a venue that encourages the appreciation and experience of a wide ranges of arts. Culture unites communities. It’s a no brainer, close it and step back in time to the days of heightened cultural division.”

    Artist Amie Taylor added: “The venue has supported me massively as an artist and enabled me to earn a living when no where else would. I’m sure many artists feel the same.”

    Earl hopes the petition will show Tower Hamlets Council that Rich Mix is more than a “fringe venue for minority interests”, and convince them to accept a settlement offer.

    “We’d much rather that we settle the case rather than having to spend money on internal and external legal fees,” she added.

    A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council, following an investigation by the East End Review last January into the situation, said: “The council considers that it would be inappropriate to comment on either ongoing litigation or associated settlement discussions. Irrespective of the litigation between the parties the council remains open to constructive discussions with Rich Mix over possible partnership funding.

    “During these difficult times for local government funding and taking into account the council’s statutory obligations, the council must ensure that any further funding is appropriate, affordable and delivers value for the borough.”

     

     

  • Exclusive: Rich Mix could go bust over Tower Hamlets Council ‘loan’

    Financial dispute: Rich Mix. Photograph: Rich Mix
    Financial dispute: Rich Mix. Photograph: Rich Mix

    Rich Mix is facing an uncertain future should it be forced to repay £850,000 to Tower Hamlets Council in one lump sum. The Shoreditch arts centre has decided to go public with the details of a legal dispute with the council dating back to 2011.

    The council is demanding repayment of £850,000 given to the arts organisation in 2002 to enable the organisation to complete the refurbishment of its premises at 35-47 Bethnal Green Road.

    Rich Mix claims it was never settled whether this money was a one-off grant or a loan that would have to be paid back. But in 2011, the council served legal papers demanding immediate repayment of the entire sum.

    It is not clear why the council has demanded all the money at once, but Rich Mix says it does not have sufficient financial reserves to pay the money and that the centre would find it difficult to continue to operate if it did.

    Rich Mix CEO, Jane Earl said that the arts centre disputes that the money needs to be paid back, though has offered to do so in instalments, adding: “What we mustn’t do is pay it in a way that will make us go bust.”

    She also claims that the council is withholding £1.6 million owed to Rich Mix as part of the planning agreement for a nearby development. Under this agreement, the developer, Telford Homes, paid over £2 million towards cultural development in the immediate area. The council’s Strategic Development Committee decided in 2010 that this money would go to Rich Mix.

    A formal contract was drawn up for the money to be transferred but contained no specific targets that Rich Mix would need to meet in order for the funds to be handed over. The contract was recently judged “unenforceable” by a court because of the lack of firm targets.

    Earl blames the contract’s poor drafting on the council, who rejected the idea of targets. She said: “In 2011 the council said it would be premature for us to set targets when we didn’t know what our level of Arts Council support would be.”

    Following the court judgement, Rich Mix has proposed a deal whereby the council would hand over the £1.6 million of development money and in return Rich Mix would pay the council the outstanding £850,000.

    Asked whether the council is using its power over funding to shut down Rich Mix, Earl declined to comment. She is, however, concerned that some councillors hold a negative view of its activities, including the “idea that it’s some kind of licentious drinking den”.

    A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “The council considers that it would be inappropriate to comment on either ongoing litigation or associated settlement discussions. Irrespective of the litigation between the parties the council remains open to constructive discussions with Rich Mix over possible partnership funding.

    “During these difficult times for local government funding and taking into account the council’s statutory obligations, the council must ensure that any further funding is appropriate, affordable and delivers value for the borough.”

  • ‘Unique’ Bethnal Green gasholders face uncertain future

    Uncertain future: Bethnal Green gasholders
    Industrial heritage: Bethnal Green gasholders

    Architecture lovers are rallying to save two iconic pieces of the East London skyline from possible demolition.

    The Bethnal Green gasholders at Marian Place are a potent reminder of East London’s industrial heritage. But campaigners believe they are at risk of being pulled down, after National Grid applied to English Heritage for a Certificate of Immunity from listing.

    Tom Ridge, a local historian and founder of the East End Waterway group, has started a petition to retain the gas holders that has already gained over 1,100 signatures.

    “They’re unique, there are no other gasholders like it left in the country,” said Mr Ridge, who is also campaigning to save gasholders in Poplar. The two holders date from 1866 and 1889 and are the only surviving example of adjacent gasholders in London. The smaller of the two has a similar design to those listed at Bromley-by-Bow and St Pancras, but is an earlier and, according to Mr Ridge, “better proportioned” example.

    Christopher Costelloe, Director of the Victorian Society, is concerned East London is “whitewashing its industrial heritage”. He said: “It is not just grand country houses which deserve protection for future generations but also buildings which are important reminders of the great technological and domestic changes of the 19th century, such as these gasholders.”

    Tower Hamlets Council’s plan for the site around the gasholders, which was given conservation status in 2008, includes a “strategic housing development” and local park, which according to its site allocation map is roughly positioned where the gasholders are currently standing.

    Jordan Gross, owner of Oval Space, which overlooks the gasholders, wants them to be included in any future development. He said: “I think the result of their removal would be that horrendous high rise flats will be built there which will then probably tower over Broadway market and the entire area. There are lots of options for repurposing these holders without building flats there.”

    Following National Grid’s application, English Heritage is to make its recommendations to the Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid, who will make a final decision about listing the gasholders.

    A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “Tower Hamlets Council is committed to ensuring that the borough’s many historic assets are managed effectively and preserved for the benefit of the community wherever possible.

    Residents who would like to share their views about the Gasholders can contact English Heritage directly.”

    View the East End Waterway group petition here: www.residents-first.co.uk/no-2-and-no-5-gasholders-at-the-bethnal/