HARLOW: The Square to reopen in July

2:43pm Wednesday 2nd April 2008

THREATENED music venue The Square will reopen on Friday, July 4.

The announcement follows a year of pressure and lobbying by a campaign group led by Harlow MP Bill Rammell, SquareOne Partnership and Labour county and district councillors to keep the Fourth Avenue premises as a community music venue following threats from the leaseholder Essex County Council.

Mr Rammell said: "The Square is an excellent live music venue for people of all ages, but particularly young people. It has a great reputation as a safe place for young people to go to enjoy music - whether that's in the audience, up on stage or helping out behind the scenes. When I was growing up in Harlow I went to The Square myself so I know how valuable it is for our community.

"Essex County Council has persisted in blocking our efforts at every turn. My and The SquareOne Partnership's priority now is to ensure that The Square goes from strength to strength."

Richard Holgarth, of The SquareOne Partnership, said: "It's no coincidence that we chose Friday, July 4, as our opening night. We see this as a day of independence from Essex County Council's constraints and the universally unpopular changes they have made in recent times."

The decision for The SquareOne Partnership to take over the lease was thrown into jeopardy earlier this year when the county council refused to allow the Partnership to run a music programme on Saturday and Sunday evenings and sell alcohol while county council youth services continued at The Square, despite assurances that the bars would be locked throughout the day and a strict door policy would be operation in the evenings.

A music programme and bar during this period would have helped to secure the vital funding needed to underwrite the financial future of The Square as a venue.

Essex County Council's strict no-alcohol policy is also continuing to jeopardise the future of the Rock School, a programme partly funded by Essex County Council. The future of the Rock School remains unclear.

Mr Rammell said: "I understand how much young people in Harlow love the Rock School and want it to continue. I also support the view that The Square is the best venue for the Rock School.

"I know the SquareOne Partnership are committed to keeping the Rock School at The Square, and I will do everything I can to support them in this.

"However, I await a decision from Essex County Council as they fund the Rock School. Their dogmatic and unreasonable approach to a music venue having alcohol on its premises is depriving Harlow of somewhere for young people to go - something that they claim is their priority."

The Square will again host the top touring bands, the best local acts, regular themed club nights, and the best of the UK's Tribute' bands. There will also be a relaunched Rock Contest at The Square.

The SquareOne Partnership has negotiated a lease to continue running the venue until it is re-developed and will continue to fight for the long term future of the venue in new premises once that time comes.

Editor's choice