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Back in June, the staff of Passing Clouds – an independent, international music and culture venue in Dalston – were locked out of the building by agents of a firm of property developers. Supporters of the venue helped them triumphantly reoccupy the building. Now the situation has reached court, and the Passing Clouds team are calling for supporters to turn out and add their voices to the hearing tomorrow morning.
Landhold Developments, the firm that bought the venue’s building (a former printworks for the Hackney Gazette) last year, have plans to turn it into homes and offices. After the events in June they reportedly offered Passing Clouds’ owner Eleanor Wilson a new 15-year lease – at three times their current rent – a few days before launching legal proceedings to evict the venue. Meanwhile an application has been made to make the venue an Asset of Community Value: a move that’s already helped protect some much-loved London pubs and venues. But for that to happen Passing Clouds will have to stay put.
Last Friday, a crowd of protestors turned up at Clerkenwell County Court before the hearing was adjourned. It’ll now take place at 10am tomorrow, when a decision is expected on Passing Clouds’ fate, and Wilson and her supporters are hoping for an even bigger turnout. If you can make it down to support independent culture and oppose the thoughtless beige-ifying of London, please do. Judging by the photos from last week, it should be quite a party.
The Passing Clouds Forever protest takes place at 29-41 Gee Street tomorrow at 10am. Read more about Passing Clouds’ battle to survive.