The Point, Cardiff Bay's Best Live Music Venue, saved from court action
Plug Two Press Release
The Point, which has been threatened with court action due to a noise complaint, has been granted a stay of execution. In recent weeks, the venue and the Council have worked closely together to agree a plan to further soundproof the venue and give the necessary time for this huge amount of work to be carried out. This has meant that the court action, originally planned for the 21st and 22nd May, will now no longer take place.
Richard Jones, owner of The Point says: "I am pleased that we are not fighting with the Council across a courtroom today and that instead, after a lot of dialogue with them, we have agreed that the venue will be given time to commission internal works to reduce the noise emitting from the building. In taking a more pragmatic and positive approach to this issue, the Council are now working with us to help secure the future of this very unique and important venue for live music and culture in South Wales."
The venue will now shut during the month of August 2008 to carry out the vital soundproofing work, which is likely to cost £50,000.
Richard Jones continues: "At £50,000 it's a huge amount to fund for a small independent business but we hope that people who have some influence in these things will now step forward and help us find a way to make it work".
When the news of the threatened closure of The Point was announced, an online petition was signed by over 5,000 people, including Cerys Matthews, Huw Stephens, members of Los Campesinos!, music industry executives, live agents and national and international acts who have enjoyed playing the venue over the years.
John Rostron, owner-manager of Plug Two who have led the campaign to save The Point has said: "I'm delighted that an agreement has been reached and I hope that, once the work is completed, the venue and its neighbours can co-exist peacefully, which is what everybody wants. I hope that lessons are learnt from this and that existing music businesses, which are so vitally important to Cardiff as a capital and Wales as a nation, are considered when planning applications are made for new builds. This problem isn't unique to Cardiff, The Night And Day venue in Manchester went through a similar proceedings. What is comforting to know is that the level of support for The Point from the industry and the public alike far surpassed that of Manchester's, which demonstrates just how incredible a venue The Point is and how passionate people in Wales are for live music."
Finally, Richard Jones comments: "We have been overwhelmed by the levels of support we have received from fans and bands across Wales and the whole of the UK which I think demonstrates the passion and affinity people feel for The Point."
The Point is a gothic-style, stone-built church that was built in 1900.
It has been active as a live music venue since 2003 and has hosted gigs from the likes of The Stereophonics, The Manic Street Preachers, Cerys Matthews, Super Furry Animals, Athlete, Steve Winwood, Glen Tilbrook, Funeral For A Friend, Willy Mason, Candi Staton, The Twang, Joe Jackson, Beirut and Iron And Wine among many others.
Save Cardiff Bay's best music venue from the threat of closure - http://www.keepthepointalive.com
