Yahoo News The Reader: Protect gig venues from soaring business rates relief
![WE at UK Music welcome new figures showing a six per cent rise in the number of music venues in London [“London turns up volume on live music venues after one third shut in a decade”, July 17].Following a decade of decline in grassroots venues across the UK this is good news from the capital. The Treasury, however, argues that music venues “are not similar in nature to pubs and clubs” and so are not eligible for new business rates relief. This is despite at least one under-threat London venue, the Macbeth, seeing its rates increase by as much as 806 per cent in recent years. If growth in music venues is to be maintained it is vital that business rate relief for them is prioritised. Michael Dugher CEO, UK Music EDITOR'S REPLYDear MichaelAfter a decade of decline we should all be celebrating that this city has seen a growth in music venues. As a Noughties teenybopper, I’m more at home in a cheesy piano bar than an indie rock venue. But what I love about this city is it satisfies my penchant for power ballads while catering for the diehard music fan. Small grassroots music venues give musicians the platform to showcase their talents, and fans moments they will remember for the rest of their lives. One of my fondest memories is leading a conga line of friends around the Half Moon in Putney as a Fleetwood Mac tribute band blasted out music. It was my 26th birthday. New venues include Fold in Canning Town, St John’s Music Hall in Leytonstone, and EartH in Dalston. London has a rich musical history and these venues are essential to continue that legacy. If we want more Eltons from Pinner, Bowies from Brixton, Adeles from Tottenham and Dizzees from Bow we need to protect small music venues. So I do agree — we must continue to fight for the survival of these venues which face pressure from development, rising rents and business rates.Sophia Sleigh, City Hall Reporter Making refugees feel welcome hereToday marks three years since the start of the landmark Community Sponsorship scheme to support the resettlement of refugees in the UK. The first family were put up by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. Since then almost 300 other refugees have received an equally warm welcome — albeit in slightly less grand surroundings. Londoners have been among the most eager to embrace the scheme.Community Sponsorship allows groups of ordinary people to support a refugee family starting a new life in the UK. People have offered a home, friendship network, English lessons and more. As the founder of one welcome group in south London put it, it’s a great way of “sewing refugees into the fabric of our society”.The Home Office plans to extend the scheme, in addition to its target to resettle 5,000 people over the next year. I hope it will now ensure all resettled refugees have equal rights to remain in the UK and are entitled to the same support. Ruth Tanner Head of Humanitarian Campaigns, Oxfam Fewer cars leads to ‘healthy streets’Your article on the “London Healthy Streets League” [July 16] identified the London boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Bexley and Bromley as the worst performers in terms of promoting “healthy streets.”In both Havering and Bexley, large areas of these boroughs are barely served by public transport; many residents require a car to even access public transport. Many of us would like to see a sustainable reduction in the number of vehicles on our roads. However, this is not possible for residents without adequate investment (by TfL) in providing a public transport alternative in these areas. Cllr Jason Frost London Borough of Havering Lib Dems have to find an allianceThe Lib Dems will need to be in a coalition to stop Brexit [“The Lib Dem dilemma,” July 17]. But not after an election — they would have to do it before one. If the new Tory leader calls an early election, Labour would have to support that, but is in no position to win with Jeremy Corbyn as leader. The Lib Dems would have to create an electoral alliance. And here’s the nightmare scenario: What if the new PM calls an election that falls after October 31? A no-deal Brexit would become inevitable with Parliament not sitting. Andy Brewer](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hIJBiIMu2OM0vQ4tLJGlXw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/evening_standard_239/9b1301001398afb56b8010acca0da701)
![WE at UK Music welcome new figures showing a six per cent rise in the number of music venues in London [“London turns up volume on live music venues after one third shut in a decade”, July 17].Following a decade of decline in grassroots venues across the UK this is good news from the capital. The Treasury, however, argues that music venues “are not similar in nature to pubs and clubs” and so are not eligible for new business rates relief. This is despite at least one under-threat London venue, the Macbeth, seeing its rates increase by as much as 806 per cent in recent years. If growth in music venues is to be maintained it is vital that business rate relief for them is prioritised. Michael Dugher CEO, UK Music EDITOR'S REPLYDear MichaelAfter a decade of decline we should all be celebrating that this city has seen a growth in music venues. As a Noughties teenybopper, I’m more at home in a cheesy piano bar than an indie rock venue. But what I love about this city is it satisfies my penchant for power ballads while catering for the diehard music fan. Small grassroots music venues give musicians the platform to showcase their talents, and fans moments they will remember for the rest of their lives. One of my fondest memories is leading a conga line of friends around the Half Moon in Putney as a Fleetwood Mac tribute band blasted out music. It was my 26th birthday. New venues include Fold in Canning Town, St John’s Music Hall in Leytonstone, and EartH in Dalston. London has a rich musical history and these venues are essential to continue that legacy. If we want more Eltons from Pinner, Bowies from Brixton, Adeles from Tottenham and Dizzees from Bow we need to protect small music venues. So I do agree — we must continue to fight for the survival of these venues which face pressure from development, rising rents and business rates.Sophia Sleigh, City Hall Reporter Making refugees feel welcome hereToday marks three years since the start of the landmark Community Sponsorship scheme to support the resettlement of refugees in the UK. The first family were put up by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. Since then almost 300 other refugees have received an equally warm welcome — albeit in slightly less grand surroundings. Londoners have been among the most eager to embrace the scheme.Community Sponsorship allows groups of ordinary people to support a refugee family starting a new life in the UK. People have offered a home, friendship network, English lessons and more. As the founder of one welcome group in south London put it, it’s a great way of “sewing refugees into the fabric of our society”.The Home Office plans to extend the scheme, in addition to its target to resettle 5,000 people over the next year. I hope it will now ensure all resettled refugees have equal rights to remain in the UK and are entitled to the same support. Ruth Tanner Head of Humanitarian Campaigns, Oxfam Fewer cars leads to ‘healthy streets’Your article on the “London Healthy Streets League” [July 16] identified the London boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Bexley and Bromley as the worst performers in terms of promoting “healthy streets.”In both Havering and Bexley, large areas of these boroughs are barely served by public transport; many residents require a car to even access public transport. Many of us would like to see a sustainable reduction in the number of vehicles on our roads. However, this is not possible for residents without adequate investment (by TfL) in providing a public transport alternative in these areas. Cllr Jason Frost London Borough of Havering Lib Dems have to find an allianceThe Lib Dems will need to be in a coalition to stop Brexit [“The Lib Dem dilemma,” July 17]. But not after an election — they would have to do it before one. If the new Tory leader calls an early election, Labour would have to support that, but is in no position to win with Jeremy Corbyn as leader. The Lib Dems would have to create an electoral alliance. And here’s the nightmare scenario: What if the new PM calls an election that falls after October 31? A no-deal Brexit would become inevitable with Parliament not sitting. Andy Brewer](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ad0qHRt6Mr5XVpFbeHzVLg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/evening_standard_239/9a16fe96d5e42a9e8465dbd42ead1316)
WE at UK Music welcome new figures showing a six per cent rise in the number of music venues in London [“London turns up volume on live music venues after one third shut in a decade”, July 17].
Following a decade of decline in grassroots venues across the UK this is good news from the capital. The Treasury, however, argues that music venues “are not similar in nature to pubs and clubs” and so are not eligible for new business rates relief. This is despite at least one under-threat London venue, the Macbeth, seeing its rates increase by as much as 806 per cent in recent years. If growth in music venues is to be maintained it is vital that business rate relief for them is prioritised.
Michael Dugher
CEO, UK Music
EDITOR'S REPLY
Dear Michael
After a decade of decline we should all be celebrating that this city has seen a growth in music venues. As a Noughties teenybopper, I’m more at home in a cheesy piano bar than an indie rock venue. But what I love about this city is it satisfies my penchant for power ballads while catering for the diehard music fan.
Small grassroots music venues give musicians the platform to showcase their talents, and fans moments they will remember for the rest of their lives. One of my fondest memories is leading a conga line of friends around the Half Moon in Putney as a Fleetwood Mac tribute band blasted out music. It was my 26th birthday.
New venues include Fold in Canning Town, St John’s Music Hall in Leytonstone, and EartH in Dalston. London has a rich musical history and these venues are essential to continue that legacy.
If we want more Eltons from Pinner, Bowies from Brixton, Adeles from Tottenham and Dizzees from Bow we need to protect small music venues. So I do agree — we must continue to fight for the survival of these venues which face pressure from development, rising rents and business rates.
Sophia Sleigh, City Hall Reporter
Making refugees feel welcome here
Today marks three years since the start of the landmark Community Sponsorship scheme to support the resettlement of refugees in the UK. The first family were put up by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. Since then almost 300 other refugees have received an equally warm welcome — albeit in slightly less grand surroundings. Londoners have been among the most eager to embrace the scheme.
Community Sponsorship allows groups of ordinary people to support a refugee family starting a new life in the UK. People have offered a home, friendship network, English lessons and more. As the founder of one welcome group in south London put it, it’s a great way of “sewing refugees into the fabric of our society”.
The Home Office plans to extend the scheme, in addition to its target to resettle 5,000 people over the next year. I hope it will now ensure all resettled refugees have equal rights to remain in the UK and are entitled to the same support.
Ruth Tanner
Head of Humanitarian Campaigns, Oxfam
Fewer cars leads to ‘healthy streets’
Your article on the “London Healthy Streets League” [July 16] identified the London boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Bexley and Bromley as the worst performers in terms of promoting “healthy streets.”
In both Havering and Bexley, large areas of these boroughs are barely served by public transport; many residents require a car to even access public transport.
Many of us would like to see a sustainable reduction in the number of vehicles on our roads. However, this is not possible for residents without adequate investment (by TfL) in providing a public transport alternative in these areas.
Cllr Jason Frost
London Borough of Havering
Lib Dems have to find an alliance
The Lib Dems will need to be in a coalition to stop Brexit [“The Lib Dem dilemma,” July 17]. But not after an election — they would have to do it before one. If the new Tory leader calls an early election, Labour would have to support that, but is in no position to win with Jeremy Corbyn as leader. The Lib Dems would have to create an electoral alliance.
And here’s the nightmare scenario: What if the new PM calls an election that falls after October 31? A no-deal Brexit would become inevitable with Parliament not sitting.
Andy Brewer
