THE LOVELY EGGS MAKE A PLEA TO SAVE THE LANCASTER MUSIC CO-OP FROM THREAT OF EVICTION

Lancaster Music Co-Op

The Lovely Eggs (and others) make a plea to save the Lancaster Music Co-Op from threat of eviction.  Social media support has also come from Sleaford Mods, Chris Packham, Marc Riley, Jane Weaver and Phill Jupitus

MESSAGE FROM THE LOVELY EGGS

Lancaster City Council have issued an eviction order on our local rehearsal and recording studios Lancaster Music Co-op!

Lancaster Music Co-op is a non-profit making rehearsal rooms and recording studios in the heart of Lancaster, providing affordable music facilities for Lancaster’s music community for the past 33 years.

We have recorded all 5 of our albums there and over the years it has welcomed a whole host of musicians through its doors who have gone on to be part of globally recognised acts such as James, The Prodigy, Maximo Park, British Sea Power, 3 Colours Red,Towers of London, Dr and The Crippens, The Milltown Brothers, The Heartbreaks and Massive Wagons (whose latest album reached the Top 10 in the UK National Album Charts!) alongside up and coming acts who have attracted BBC 6 Music’s support such as Mr Ben and the Bens and 3D Tanx.For the last 16 years Lancaster Music Co-op has been in a state of limbo after the city council, who own the building, teamed up with a big property developer and earmarked the building and the land surrounding it for commercial development. Now the city council have severed ties with the big developer and have issued the Music Co-op with an eviction notice.

It is absolutely disgraceful behaviour by the City Council who obviously have no regard to just how important Lancaster Music Co-op is for the music scene in Lancaster and beyond. It is a vital resource to Lancaster’s musicians and has an impact far beyond the city it serves. We’re now planning a massive campaign to help save the co-op and overturn the eviction.

STATEMENT FROM LANCASTER MUSIC CO-OP

This week Lancaster Musician’s Co-op has been issued with a 6 month eviction order from our building in Lodge Street, Lancaster.

We have been serving musicians for the last 33 years, providing non-profit making affordable rehearsal and recording facilities for the local community and beyond.

For the last 16 years we have been in a state of limbo after the city council, who own the building, teamed up with a big property developer and earmarked our building and the land surrounding it for commercial development. A demolition order was served on our premises around 12 years ago as part of the development plans.

During this time, we have been unable to move forward as the City Council quashed negotiations for a long term lease and stalled any attempts by us to renovate and improve the building. At the time, we had a successful planning application approved to totally revamp the interior of the building to create a new purpose built recording studio, rehearsal rooms and venue. But without a long term lease we could not move forward with any of our plans.

A long term lease would have given us security and more importantly access to much needed funding to improve the building, enhance our facilities and realise our ambitions. It has been a very frustrating 16 year waiting game. During that time we were told Lancaster Music Co-op would be accommodated as part of any redevelopment of the site. However in April 2018, Lancaster City Council severed ties with the big developer and in July issued Lancaster Music Co-op with a huge list of impossible demands and repairs on the building.

Although we have been working our way through their list of repairs, we have now been issued with an eviction notice, ironically on the weekend of Lancaster Live Music Festival!

We must now FIGHT Lancaster City Council to SAVE LANCASTER MUSIC CO-OP!! This is a vital resource to Lancaster’s musicians and has an impact far beyond the city it serves. We must fight to save its future!

You can help save the co-op by signing the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/lancaster-city-council-save-lancaster-music-co-op-fight-the-eviction