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Talking Point /
Talking Point - Guildhall Music |
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| Talking Point - Guildhall Music |
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Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
Over 1,000 people are supporting a campaign to turn one of Andover's most iconic buildings into a music venue.
Emma Jane Kibbey set up a group on Facebook to get support for her idea to transform the town's Guildhall.
Italian restaurant chain Prezzo have planning permission to move into the building but Test Valley Borough Council said last month that it's taking too long and they're looking at other options.
Emma told us how the idea came about: "It just popped up in my head really when I found out the George was changing hands. We've got so many restaurants that it would be nice to broaden the music scene. The Guildhall's quite nostalgic as well, it's quite a nice landmark in Andover so let's broaden it and get everyone involved because it could be something huge."
Councillor Ian Carr is the leader of Test Valley Borough Council.
He told us it's unlikely the idea would bring in enough money: "Whoever takes it on is going to need to make a commitment to upgrade the Lower Guildhall and that's the only reason it was done really to make sure it could be kept they way it should be kept without putting a drain on the Council's resources.
"We spent £2 million doing up what used to be the old Cricklade Theatre, now The Lights. It is the music venue for the town. Why really would you want somewhere else?"
Click here to view the Facebook page.
This is our Talking Point today. Would you like to see the Guildhall become a music venue? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below. |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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06:58 on Thursday 21st January 2010 |
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"@Anon. i commute 2 andovre evryday nd i also popp in2 marks nd sparcks 4 a sandwitch nd walk past the gild hall evry day nd always seeing it empti. we ned prezo hear. i cant w8 2 sit in ther waching the wurld go by wile eting my natcho's" |
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anon of Andover says: |
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10:04 on Tuesday 19th January 2010 |
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"Vince of Andover, is that how you treat and speak to out of town visitors? Do you not welcome opinions of Andover's surrounding villages and towns? Surely, if we want this town to thrive, people from out of Andover have a right to voice their opinions? So, the people who commute to Andover day in day out, should shop out of town because it isn't their town? With a pompous attitude like yours, no wonder this town is getting nowhere. I for one(and i'm an Andover resident) want the Guildhall to be filled quickly, weTHer it be Prezzo or not, so please do not voice your opinion on false pretenses, claiming you speak for the WHOLE of Andover, when you clearly don't. " |
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Sarah of Andover says: |
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23:19 on Saturday 16th January 2010 |
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"Lee, when STAG organised 'Folk at the Guildhall' the Angel sorted the bar - it worked really well, and I'm sure they or other pubs in the town would be happy to help out again. If a community organisation was set up it could apply for a licence... Having a bar would be a great way to support the venue..." |
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Lee chesters of andover says: |
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22:32 on Saturday 16th January 2010 |
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"i think using the hall for a venue is a great idea, the lights is more of a theatre and there is a huge difference between a theatre and a venue, its all about the atmosphere,you could also use it for plays, comedy nights,charity events etc. we do not need another food place, you may as well throw in another kebab shop and betting shop while your at it, complete waste of time, i play in local band Transcend , we all agree that a venue is a good idea as local pubs tend to stick to cover bands or light music wich is fair enough but we need a place where we can really rock out aswell, somewhere that acoustic artists and thrash metalists can all play, just like the george but bigger, however its true that funding would be the biggest problem here,it would be tough to cover costs without installing a bar, even then it will be tough full time." |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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16:54 on Saturday 16th January 2010 |
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"@Vince. U say "we dont wnt it in andoevr" whos we ? r u speeking 4 the hole of andover ? frm wot i no, most want it so do i cuz i lick prezo its a claasy restrant" |
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Vince of Andover says: |
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12:44 on Saturday 16th January 2010 |
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"Robin, where in LUDGERSHALL would like the prezzo. because we dont want it here in Andover. how about in the middle of your castle, would that be a good place for it ??" |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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07:32 on Friday 15th January 2010 |
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"@Ross. Reeson why a restrant is cummin 2 town is 4 us to eat in. we need a prezo" |
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Kate of Andover says: |
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16:44 on Wednesday 13th January 2010 |
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"Great idea Emma :)
We need somewhere good like that, the lights is more theater than music, it would be a great addition to our town :) x" |
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Ross of Andover says: |
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01:38 on Wednesday 13th January 2010 |
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"The Lights isn't really a music venue and with the george rumoured not to be putting on many gigs anymore, if not any at all. Andover doesn't really have a music venue. It's deffinately a better idea then an italian resteraunt, why put a resteraunt in the guildhall?" |
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Sarah Evans of Andover says: |
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22:23 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"Ami, it wouldn't have to be used as a music venue all the time but it would help to support community use for other events during the day time and evennings. At the moment the lower Guildhall has been closed - charities and community groups were kicked out some time ago. Save the Andover Guildhall identified plenty of regular users for the building and plenty of ideas about how it could be used within its expression of interest. THere are plenty of successful examples around the Test Valley of village halls run by and for the communitity.
If properly promoted it could be a real success - The Guildhall is not a theatre and the lights is not a village or town hall. Both could succeed and help to bring more people to Andover to bring trade to local pubs, restaurants and shops. I think it's worth exploring rather than just assuming it wouldn't work without first doing some research - hopefully TVBC might finally decide to sit down with the community and really look at all the options in a meaningful way." |
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Ami of Andover says: |
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22:05 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"The problem isn't that the idea is a bad one- it's just too big for a small town. Andover doesn't just have one music venue (e.g., The Lights)- it also has the pubs and bars that allow local talent to perform, as well as The Lights itself having local band nights. It doesn't need one place dedicated solely to music that will not get used most of the time- at the moment, at least the hall is used every day. If it was just a music venue, I really doubt it would be used every day. My friend is in a local band, and has never had a problem with getting local gigs, at least once a week, and this is without a dedicated centre. As Andover is such a small town (and the music 'scene' isn't as big as people will have you believe) we don't need once place solely for music, and the Guildhall should either be left as it is, or turned into something we can all enjoy, such as a resteruant. I'm not saying no to music- I'm saying no to turning this town centre building into something only 1/10th of the population will be interested in." |
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Sarah Evans of Andover says: |
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18:26 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"I was astonished to hear Cllr Carr's dismissive comments about Emma Jane's ideas - it was very sad.
Emma Jane's idea is great and the Guildhall would make a great music venue and is one of the many options outlined in Save The Andover Guildhall's expression of interest submitted to TVBC who then failed to engage with it, or 6000 plus signatures that called for the Guildhall to be kept as a community resource.
STAG held 'folk at the Guildhall' which was a total sell out and unlike the lights the Lower Guildhall was affordable for a community group: just like any other village hall and unlike the lights which often has productions, it is a theatre afterall and not a community hall!
The Guildhall is our village hall and grants and funding ideas could be explored to do it up - but the community needs the council's help to explore these ideas. SOmething that TVBC just keeps refusing to do, sadly.
COme on Cllr Carr, give it a go - please? Surely that's why you stood for election in order to help support the community and not to just dismiss it?
Young people's ideas need to be engaged with not simply dismissed without any effort to even try and explore them." |
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MicK Jaeger of Andover says: |
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16:41 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"The Guildhall is not suitable as a full time live music venue, it is'nt big enough and has no bar.
Where would the income come from?
I think it could be made available for local bands to use and when there not playing lots of other community groups.
But they will never happen with the current council." |
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Lauren of Andover says: |
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16:02 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"Anon, I would like to say that Crispy was a friend of mine and therefore yes I was at Crispstock. As Mick said it is an annual event which took months of fundraising. I am not sure however that the Lights would have a full blown death metal show on there with kids kicking and punching in the pit. The same goes for a punk show or a hardcore show. The George caters for the more 'extreme tastes' so to speak. I do not for one second believe the Lights would allow these things to happen. Some may not understand this but most will. I am sure that the new owners of the George will do as they see fit. I truely hope that they continue the years of live music that venue has produced. I for one would not be the same without it." |
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Mick of Grateley says: |
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14:25 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"Too a certain degree i'm with Lauren. There is nothing wrong with The Guildhall being another music venue in Andover. The George has live music on every week and with that going i don't think the Lights would have the same genres of music that are played in The George right now on a regular basis. I read anon's message about Crispystock, but that is an annual event.
And i'm sure the majority of the people who are saying no to The Guildhall having live music wouldn't want 'the dreaded youth of today' hanging about the streets of Andover would they??
However, perhaps the real issue here is that TVBC shouldn't have decided to change The Guildhall into a restaurant in the first place!!" |
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Anon of Andover says: |
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13:55 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"Clearly Lauren who made the comment re The Lights "It's almost as though you can't dance or get involved as much through fear of being kicked out than anything else" can't have been at Crispystock which was held at The Lights last year.
There were people up dancing & jumping around in front of the stage all evening and I didn't see anyone get thrown out for getting "too involved"!
" |
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Lauren of Andover says: |
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11:17 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"For those who don't know about or are not involved in the Andover music scene wouldn't understand the need for a music venue in the town. The George has been for some time the beating heart of the Andover music scene. With the iminent departure of the current owners, who knows what is going to happen to the pub. I understand that we have The Lights but as a music venue, it is too impersonal, too polished. It's almost as though you can't dance or get involved as much through fear of being kicked out than anything else. That isn't what live music is about. I think what Emma Jayne is doing is awesome. If the council actually sat down and thought about it and not just dismiss the idea then they might see this could actually be a good investment. GIVE IT A CHANCE! " |
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sam of andover says: |
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10:44 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"Not being funny but the guild hall need's to much money spent on it.I think it would be a waste of resources and money. And like everyone is saying andover has the lights. And I agree with what Bill said And also restore it back to its glory for history sake." |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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10:04 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"i think it shuld stay as a restrant. i lick prezo we need prezo hurry up nd make a decishun nd bring prezo 2 andover. wot do we need a nuvva music venu 4 ? we got lites alredy nd even that dusnt fill up evry week" |
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Bill of Andover says: |
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07:42 on Tuesday 12th January 2010 |
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"Never thought I'd say this but for once I agree with Ian Carr. We dont need another music venue with The Lights already so close to the Town Centre.
However, I still do not agree with any restaurant plan and feel the Guildhall should be a shining example of Andover's history - the bits left standing that is. Let the Tourist Centre use part of it and showcase the Town properly in the centre of the Town." |
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