GAY SCENE TO BE DEMOLISHED!!!

[wildeman]

-Its more likely than people think!

The council plans to redevelop the area from The Discovery Musem to the river including the top of Scotswood Rd - where the bars are: "The Discovery Quarter"

Of course there is the usual "consultation process" and as usual it seems to have passed most Scene-Users by. So far, they have no evidence that anyone would object to a developer presenting an idea for new flats, offices etc on the current site of the scene. Next monday and tuesday (12th & 13th) people from the planning department will be at The End from 5pm - 9pm. If people want there to be a gay scene in the future they'd better come and say so.

People should remember that a former council created what we have today by "Zoning" Gay businesses into the same area. Is it OK that we should be moved about whenever a political regime changes?

[rebelyell]

There'll be hell on!
We could sue them for malicious conduct and sexual deviancy.

[wildeman]

-It looks as though there'll only be "hell on" AFTER any adverse decision has been taken. People I've spoken with don't think anything will happen and they aren't interested in getting invoved in influencing the process ("too political")- they'd rather wait and see.

[hippy]

Now then, let me see. Go to The End for half an hour and see some nice people from Planning and say "Please can we keep our Gay Scene", and partake of a bit of buffet and solidarity.

versus

Double Coronation Street with camp character Shaun agonising over his long lost dad.

No contest for me. How about you?

In the future will you agonise over your lost amenities like Antony Cotton does now over his fictitious father?

[milky]

I thought all major cities had to have a certian number of gay outlets? cud any1 enlighten me?

[gayuk]

I thought they did too, Maybe we are under the wrong assumption!!

Hasnt there always been talk for the major developement for that particular area anyway?!

[hippy]

Redevelopment is going on apace. Had you noticed the Jurys Inn etc. However, the point at issue is that the ruling Non-Social Un-Democrats are lining thing up so that their Big Business friends make the maximum profit whist delivering the maximum loss to the ordinary folk.

The Council and Planning Department representatives underlined their thinly veiled proposals at "The End", thus telegraphing by their ironic choice of venue their real agenda in bringing about The End of our gay scene.

At the meetings the Council and Panning representatives stressed that whatever replaced the gay triangle, they were definitely not going to encourage gay businesses. The officials I spoke to seemed to be intent on trumpeting their powers of Compulsory Purchase, and then assuring me that no gay businesses would survive in the allocation of plots to their cosy Developers and Land Speculators.

It is a clear Council agenda to not only demolish the buildings in which at least nine of our outlets are situated, but also ensure that those businesses are dispersed to the four winds and encouraged to wither away to nothing. The Council is under no obligation to maintain gay businesses. However, the previous forward thinking people centred Labour Council decided to encourage a gay triangle and also zoned certain separate areas as retail, light industrial, and leisure. That's how the Marlborough Social Club were offered the old PDSA building in Blandford Street when its Wesmorland Road premises were purchased for "City Quadrant", and Top to Bottom was encouraged to start up in the same area.

The new Non-Lib Un-Democrats are set to undo all of that zoning in favour of profits for its friends. Toryism by another name.

[wildeman]

Thanks Hippy, I've heard RUMOURS of the sort of thing you describe, but not from any "first hand withesses" as it were... Isn't it ironic that the very people who use the Scene most seem least interested in preserving it.

IF anything does happen, I doubt there'll be barricades before the bulldozers, I imagine most will sit about to see if anyone else will do something for them - which they can slag off for not being what they've got now. -"Activism"?!!! Hell no! One must always be careful not to ruffle one's coiffure or chip a manicure - what might 'people' think!?

[Ouija]

But this is insane...

How come this hasn't been more widely publicised?

When is the proposed "demolishing" due to take place? And what - if anything - can we do to stop it?

Ouija.

[wildeman]

Hi Ouija

its ok - enough people turned up at two "consultation events" at The End to make sure that nothing will happen without taking us into consideration. If people had not turned up and spoken their minds, there really would not have been anything to stop the council giving the go-ahead to any full-scale redevelopment of "the discovery quarter" that simply got rid of the bars at the top of Scotswood rd etc.

[tightass]

Sorry wildeman, I have heard from two different sources in as many days that a compulsory purchase order is to be placed on Scotswood Road within the next twelve months.

Anybody else heard anything?

Whilst trying not to be too political, Newcastle labour council (eventually) were pro-active in creating the pink triangle. Maintaining this strategy does not appear to be on the liberal agenda.

Al

[wildeman]

Thanks Al - I hadn't heard this rumour. If its true, it will be interesting to see what the people who think dealing with the council is "political" and boring will get involved or sit back and wait for the usual suspects (mainly the women btw) to do the work for them.

[lovedough]

They`ve been saying this for years!! the rumours have been floating round since ive been on the scene bk in 1996, not saying that none of it is true or not of it is lies. They`ve already managed to rid us of strings and mims in waterloo street where the old powerhouse was and rockshots... as far as im concerned with the gay scene, it is growing and it is growing stronger and strong each day, and if this was to happen in later days thnen im sure we would put a fight to stop them ridding us of our happy establishment.

[kingdomcome]

Till only a few streets! Tis not the entire city! The scene will develop. There will be more clubs/pubs. There are many heterosexual haunts that have been demolished and office or living accomodation took their place. I'm not a scene person anyway as I like to chat and with THAT NOISE in most clubs . . .

[dazza190574]

kingdomcome said:

Till only a few streets! Tis not the entire city! The scene will develop. There will be more clubs/pubs. There are many heterosexual haunts that have been demolished and office or living accommodation took their place. I'm not a scene person anyway as I like to chat and with THAT NOISE in most clubs . . .

I think the problem is though the City is awash with straight pubs and clubs, so the 10 or so gay venues (bugs me to call Powerhouse gay) would be a loss to a great deal of people.

I for one don't mind going to straight pubs but always like going to gay pubs after, I can relax a lot more in them.

[wildeman]

"The scene will develop. There will be more clubs/pubs."


Oh yeah? How's that going to happen? By magic? It bugs me how many people are prepared to sit back and TALK about what "should" or "will" happen but how few are prepared to actually DO anything about it or think about practical real issues:

Where are these clubs and pubs to come from? There is a cap on new licenses in the city centre and rents and property prices - let alone conversion and refurbishment costs are huge. How far outside the city centre are we prepared to look if "The End" is "too far away" for most?!!

With ALL its faults, the little corner of gay commerce we've been left with provides a feeling of safety for many who use it- THAT'S why many put up with poor service at inflated prices -its got nothing to do with "loyalty" to FBL or any other outfit. To lose the comfort zone of the gay scene may make many feel unsafe to travel to different venues across the city.

I have to say that I'd prefer more of a spread in location, style and ownership, but I don't think most current users would or that there are (m)any people with the cash and the nowce to start something new.