END OF THE MINISTRY OF SOUND?

[luke]

END OF THE MINISTRY SOUND?

The world famous Ministry of Sound (MofS) night club could be forced to close its doors for good, if a part of the Elephant and Castle regeneration gets the go ahead, it has claimed.

Plans for a 41 storey block, to include 335 flats, on the doorstep of the Gaunt Street club will see a number of new homes built adjacent to the MofS on Newington Causeway.

The club, which has been based in the area for eighteen years, has already placed objections to the plans as it begins what it sees might be a fight for its existence.

In response to this developers Oakmayne have suggested clubbers could be offered lollipops when they leave in order to mitigate against noise pollution.

Lohan Presencer, Ministry of Sound CEO, fears placing so many residents in an 'enterprise quarter' for businesses will force his club to pack up and leave.

He said: "The bottom line is we are very fortunate to exist in a non residential area. If there are 300 residential apartments directly opposite the Ministry of Sound, and if any one of those residents had any issue with somebody outside their apartment at three or four in the morning they could legitimately complain to the Environmental Health Officer.

They could take that to a licence committee and challenge our licence. If our licence is challenged and it has a sufficient lobby behind it, regardless of our history here, we could lose it."

A report by Southwark Council officers regarding the plans confirmed this. It stated 'The MofS will therefore be open to enforcement action under the nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act.' Talks between the club and developers Oakmayne have not come up with a solution so far. Mr Presencer told the 'News' that the developers had thrown a few left wing propositions his way to help solve the dispute.

These include offering sweets to clubbers as they leave to keep them quiet, pumping MofS records into lifts at Eileen House and offering sweeteners to new residents such as branded iPods.

The more realistic option of soundproofing both buildings has not been fully thought out or committed to by Oakmayne, according to the Ministry CEO. He also feels that a temporary closure of six to twelve months, to work on soundproofing the Ministry, could also see the club hit the wall.

"All this needs to be resolved in circumstances where they are not trying to rush this application through in March this year," Mr Presencer stated. "It can't be done, this needs to be worked out. If there is a solution that enables our roof to be fixed, then that needs to be worked out properly and not in a slapdash way of 'Give them some money and get them out of the way, and lets get this work done'."

He added: "You only have to look at the closure of the Jubilee Line at weekends that has had a terminal effect on Matter at the O2. That nearly killed that club as people can't get there or away and they go elsewhere."

Cllr Adele Morris, who represents the Cathedrals Ward where the MofS is based, has backed the club. She said: "The MofS’s big fear is understandably that new people will move in and complain about the noise from the club. My view is they have been here for 20 years and we are very proud to have them in the area.

They are an international name and we need to make sure nothing happens that will cause them to be closed down. That does not mean we can't have development it means that development has to take them into consideration."

While admitting that his club is also out to make money Mr Presencer is concerned the motives of the developer are purely financial: "You have to question whether Oakmayne's agenda is genuinely about regeneration or making money. I would wager, because every business is about that, it's about making money.

We have co-existed here for close to 20 years and we want to continue to be here as we are fond of the Elephant."

Christopher Allen, Chairman of the Oakmayne group, said: "We have worked extensively with the MofS and Southwark officers to ensure that the scheme and the MofS can coexist harmoniously. We have also agreed to spend nearly £400,000 to assist in further sound proofing the nightclub.

Sadly for Southwark residents the MofS will not withdraw their objections so that £20million of scheme benefits are now in jeopardy. This represents £16million of affordable housing and £4.5million of community related benefits.

"As this is a major scheme within the Elephant and Castle Regeneration Area we are hopeful that the planning application will be considered by the council’s planning committee next month."

The plans for developing Eileen House were due to go before a planning committee on December 9, 2009. Before they could be considered a decision was deferred until a future date.

Eileen House will be one of three centrepiece towers in the area, the others being the Strata Tower on Walworth Road and the 360 London Tower on the site of the former London Park Hotel.

from http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,17426,185,00.htm

that'll be a real shame if they close ministry i've spent many a mashed night there! i had to work on the door a few times sorting out the guest list, i used to get my mates in to the vip room and keep all the free drinks vouchers to myself ( the vip's can afford the drink prices! )

[modern]

Never saw you as a raver Luke!

[luke]

you wasn't at the right parties then