Music Venue Trust calls on local councils to help save gig spaces after Preston City Council gives £150k to Own Our Venues scheme

nme.com:

nine venues earmarked for the first round of purchase for community ownership.The Trust (MVT) has now called on other councils to make the “imperative” move and follow suit by getting involved in the scheme.

Matthew Otridge, the Ownership Coordinator for MVT, said: “We are delighted that Preston City Council are supporting our efforts to save The Ferret and move it into Community Ownership.“Like The Ferret, the Grassroot Music Venues we are looking to purchase at this stage are at the forefront of the live music provision in their towns and cities.

In fact, some are the only remaining live music venue.“It is therefore imperative that other local Councils follow PCCs lead and support this campaign in recognition of these vital cultural and community hubs.

We must Own Our Venues.”Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, Deputy Leader of Preston City Council, said that the Ferret and other gig spaces are “important part of our city centre arts scene” and that it would be detrimental to the local music scene to lose independent venues.Speaking about the council’s decision to loan the money to the Own Our Venues scheme, Councillor Rawlinson said: “We felt that it was important that we did what we could to help support the Ferret’s campaign to raise the funds to purchase the building and stop it from being sold for commercial development.”Meanwhile, the general manager of The Ferret, Matt Fawbert, said: “The biggest worry now, is that the property is in the hands of a private landlord, and they have put the property up for sale.“It just shows, you can fight through the pandemic and you can get through all sorts of problems but the landlord could take this away at any point by selling the building.