Cheers from gallery as plan to turn theatre into a car park is voted out
CHEERS and shouts of "thank-you" echoed around the Council House last night after plans to demolish part of the former Hippodrome Theatre were thrown out.
Every member of Derby City Council's planning control committee spoke out against a proposal to demolish the building, which dates from 1914, and replace it with a multi-storey car park.
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Christopher Anthony
The decision was welcomed by campaigners, who want to see the restoration of the derelict theatre, which has partly collapsed.
Councillor Alan Grimadell said: "It's a tragedy that this happened to this great old theatre. It should never have become a derelict shell. It's of great historical interest."
Owner Christopher Anthony applied 18 months ago to partly demolish the Grade II listed building and build the car park. But council officers said he had not done enough to look at alternative uses.
The officer's report, supported by English Heritage and the Theatres Trust, said: "There is no clear and convincing justification for the proposals."
As each of the councillors voiced their support for refusing planning permission, they were greeted by applause from the public gallery, where a sign urging them to save the Hippodrome had been displayed.
"We should support our creative industries in this city," urged Councillor Baggy Shanker.
His views were echoed by Councillor Finbar Richards, who said: "We could not make claims to be a cultural city if we let this go ahead."
Mr Anthony claimed the property, in Green Lane, was worth just £25,000 in its current state. But he said it could be sold for £500,000 if planning permission for the car park was approved.
He was represented at last night's hearing by Lindsay Cowell, who said it was a "realistic and viable scheme that would bring numerous benefits to the area".
But his claims were rejected by councillors, who also reacted angrily to a "veiled threat" about the possibility of an appeal.
Councillor Philip Hickson said: "Coming to this committee with veiled threats about what may or may not happen if we should not decide in their favour is unhelpful."
Derby Civic Society chairman David Ling spoke at the meeting against the plans.
He said: "We must not allow any other part of our city's heritage to be lost to us."
Mr Anthony says the building, which shut as a bingo hall in 2006, is in a "critical condition" and is in danger of "catastrophic collapse".
But a survey this week by English Heritage said there was no immediate threat of collapse.
18 Comments
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by Rob, Heanor
Saturday, July 10 2010, 12:37PM
“I'm really pleased at the decision, but if you think that the Council is going to acquire this building, then you are so naive. Don't you read the press? Latest plans are for around 1000 redundancies, there is a vacancy freeze and the Council is committed to the Council House project. There is no way they are going to another financial commitment in the current climate.
By the way, amid all self congratulatory back-slapping, how about a word of thanks for the Council's Planning Officers, Conservation Officers and Legal Officers who have had to deal with Mr.Anthony for the last couple of years. It seems that there are plenty on here who criticize them for decisions they don't like, but fall silent when the opposite is true...”
by Tom Fulep, Sinfin
Friday, July 09 2010, 2:34PM
“Who knows?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109145335804798&v=info&ref=mf”
by council worker, derbyshire
Friday, July 09 2010, 2:19PM
“I agree Tom, come on DCC you've apparently got £40m spare to do up the council house..... share and share alike now......
i doubt that will ever happen!”
by Tom Fulep, Sinfin
Friday, July 09 2010, 2:14PM
“Like wow! Has reality returned? I doubt that very much. Now let's see Derby City Council reduce their grandiose plan for their own palace and maybe use some of the savings for the Hippodrome.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109145335804798&v=info”
by Christopher, Derby
Friday, July 09 2010, 2:10PM
“Jo, in an ideal world it would be possible to "negotiate a deal" with the owner. However this has been tried in the past and it came to nothing.
Before the demolition work took place, The Telegraph published an article telling us of a "mystery benefactor" who wanted to buy the theatre to let it out at a peppercorn rent to local groups.
This offer was genuine as letters within the application document list will confirm.
The owner refused to meet with the person and rejected an offer which is understood to have been much more than he had paid for the building. Christopher Anhony could have walked away having made a substantial profit at the time.
It was also reported by one f the speakers at last night's meeting that the For Sale sign on the building gives an unregistered email address as the contact for offers, and compared this with the extensive On-line marketing campaign for Zanzibar (former Gaumont Cinema).
I doubt very much that the offer by the owner's representative was a genuine offer, but this may yet be tested and if it is, we'll know for certain.”
by Penny, Five Lamps
Friday, July 09 2010, 2:01PM
“Wow!!! a result like this shows what Derby people can achieve when we put our minds to it. We have an amazing combination of talented people in our midst together with all our supporters.
March 2008 was a total shock to many people who had no idea what a gem of a theatre we had in the city centre and shall have again!!
A massive thanks to you all for supporting the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust in whichever way you have.
Together we can make good things happen in Derby too and can really now look forward to the undoubted challenging but exciting times ahead.
Stay with us, join us, we are on
facebook 'Save Derby Hippodrome' we need you all.”
by jo, derby
Friday, July 09 2010, 1:46PM
“I think we are unanimous in our desire to turn the hippo back into a theatre but there are real problems as i see it going forward with financing the repairs which could take a many years and too many unknowns.It has been reported and accepted by the council that this man does not have the money to restore the building and compulsory purchase is not a forgone conclusion. It would seem logical to me that the Restoration fund or Theatres Trust should collaberate with this man and put forward a sustainable scheme that could help pay for the restoration costs and perhaps enhance the new proposal even further.Last night his spokesman said he was open to any proposals Surely this solves the problem. You wont know unless you try.”
by Ken, Hatton
Friday, July 09 2010, 1:43PM
“Great News... So Far!
But, don't trust this Christopher Anthony, he is a, 'snake in the grass'!
I say to the City Council, now apply for a Compulsory Purchase Order on the Hippodrome, and accept the current market value of the site, in lieu of legal custs so far incurred.
Then sell the site to a charitable trust.”
by Anon, Derby
Friday, July 09 2010, 11:57AM
“Good news about the Hippodrome, though it's taken too long (in my opinion) to get to this point. The reference to "veiled threats" clearly shows the mentality of Mr Anthony and his associates, and judging from the majority of comments regarding the Hippodrome over the last few years, Mr Anthony and his associates aren't welcome in Derby.
Unfortunately, I understand that he owns at least one other building in that area (the old church/bar/nightclub on the end of Gower Street), so unless he's willing to sell that off to someone to cut his losses, he's going to be here for a while.
I hope that the council now finds its collective nerve and tells this shyster to either put the building back the way it was before his "renovations", or they take the building from him in lieu of any costs incurred, so that the building can be restored for the people of Derby.”
by ROBERT, OSMASTON. DE24
Friday, July 09 2010, 11:28AM
“At last,now good bye scumbag and take your nomark associates with you.Derby doesn't want you or likes you.So leave NOW.”