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Post by mikebrook on Jan 30, 2010 16:09:20 GMT
Hi.
Does anybody know whats going on with the Winter Gardens? My mother who lives in Morecambe has told me they have now pulled the plug on it? If so, where's all the raised money gone ? I bought a plank a few years ago as I have always liked the building and wanted to see it re-open again as the last time I saw it open was when I was about 6 or 7, i'm now 41! If they have pulled the plug on this surely it would have been nice to inform all the people who have contributed over the years on the website they had! This has also gone! Surely after all the work put into the building Morecambe cant let it go to rack and ruin again? I know the building WILL one day re-open, would just be nice to see why after all this time the project has now been pulled! I believe Geraldine Smith was involved it the fund raising for this project, if you read this can you please explain why the project has stopped and where has all the money gone, as far as my mum's concerned with all the money raised over the years she has seen no improvements or work being done!
Regards Mike Brook
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Jan 30, 2010 17:45:25 GMT
Hi Mike. I am not sure that they have 'pulled the plug' as you put it, but thing do not look too promising. Here is a report from the Visitor newspaper from last November....
Winter Gardens future in doubt
Published Date: 18 November 2009
THE future of Morecambe's Winter Gardens has been thrown into doubt after a bid for cash from a Government scheme to regenerate UK seaside towns was rejected. Instead, seven coastal resorts across the UK, including Fleetwood and Barrow-in-Furness, are to benefit from cash injections.
The news has devastated campaigners who have worked tirelessly for years to develop the building to use as an entertainment and arts venue.
Councilor Evelyn Archer, Friends of the Winter Gardens Preservation Trust chairman, said: "The news that the council was unsuccessful in the bid for Sea Change funding for the Winter Gardens is a crippling blow for the restoration and re-opening of the theatre.
"Not being successful in the £4million bid has, in reality, meant we have also lost the £4million match funding from the North West Development Agency who have been so supportive to us.
"I would like to thank officers of the council who worked so hard to put in the bid; however, I think it was the decision by councillors in their reluctance to give financial support which led to the decision by the Sea Change partners."
Coun Stuart Langhorn, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: "The council has supported the aspirations of the Winter Gardens Preservation Trust Ltd in bringing the building back into use and has worked with them to achieve that aim."
Sea Change, which funds regeneration projects and economic growth in seaside resorts, said they had rejected the £4million application for the Winter Gardens because partners felt "that there was insufficient evidence of long-term financial viability and that the potential costs for the refurbishment seemed low (were underestimated) with the risk of a project overspend."
A bid for a total of £12.5million in grants had been submitted, including Sea Change, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the North West Development Agency, for the restoration of the Winter Gardens.
I think that is the up to date situation, unless any of the locals on the forum know otherwise.
Cheers. Trev..
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Jan 30, 2010 23:24:59 GMT
I was just thinking - wasn't the argument in favour of demolishing the Dome largely supported by the future vision of this wonderfully renovated Winter Gardens? Where does that leave us if we lose the Dome and don't have the Winter Gardens? Just The Platform?
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Post by ukuleleron on Feb 4, 2010 16:22:44 GMT
The Dome is closing in the very near future, I fear that the Platform is destined to follow, tho probably not before the next elections.
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Feb 4, 2010 18:18:10 GMT
Well those are two very strong statements. Or are they only your predictions. I have seen that the closure of the Dome has been mentioned before. But closure of the Platform? Trev..
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Post by accykeef on Feb 4, 2010 19:18:30 GMT
The Council are after 'saving' money so it is inevitable that they will close both of them.
What next then?
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Post by ukuleleron on Feb 5, 2010 17:24:55 GMT
The Dome is due to close in March, unless by some miracle the council has a change of heart, in which case it will expediate the closure of The Platform
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Post by musky on Feb 5, 2010 21:06:26 GMT
Does anyone know how much has money the W/G has taken & how much has been spent. They must have got a few quid for the live shows for Most Haunted in October ?
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trevnhil
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Posts: 2,768
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Post by trevnhil on Feb 6, 2010 8:19:59 GMT
The Dome is due to close in March, unless by some miracle the council has a change of heart, in which case it will expediate the closure of The Platform Do you know that try as I might I can find nothing on the Internet about the Dome closing this year. Trev..
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Feb 8, 2010 9:02:45 GMT
If both Dome and Platform close does that mean the end of live entertainment in Morecambe?
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Post by lifeboat1721 on Feb 18, 2010 11:36:28 GMT
I had been told that ALL the land between the Midland and the War memorial were part of the sweetner given to Urban Splash I may be wrong but it may end up as a car park for there fancy housing scheem Ian
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Post by gnasher on Feb 18, 2010 19:22:48 GMT
That would be the piece of land that the council have, over the years, turned from something interesting into a bit of grass. I'm not entirely sure it will be a car park but if it is, how is it any different to what the council have done to the rest of what used to be our promenade?
A lot of people seem to be bashing urban splash for turning a derelict hotel into something that has put Morecambe in the headlines more than a few times in recent years. They've managed to perform the miracles our town leader has failed to do in, what, 26 years with the WG.
So what if they were given the land as a sweetener? It will save the council cleaning up the dog sh!t every day.
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Post by accykeef on Feb 18, 2010 19:44:19 GMT
I would like to see the area around the Midland developed in some way, it may just kick start the re-generation on the sea front.
As for the WG, it would be great for Morecambe to have a theatre but I can't help thinking that the glory days of Theatre are long gone.
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Post by gnasher on Feb 18, 2010 19:55:16 GMT
Since the WG were refused the grant they have shut up shop. No longer do they bother opening it on a Sunday even though that area of the prom is quite busy, even in winter with the shoppers to the markets and Hitchens and B&M.
I have fond memories of the WG, roller skating through the entrance out onto the prom being just one, but being realistic it isn't going to re-open with the current crowd in charge.
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Feb 25, 2010 9:47:51 GMT
But the Winter Gardens wasn'tjust going to be a theatre was it? It was going to be versatile with multiple uses and a replacement concert venue for when the Dome is gone. At least it would have far better acoustics than the Platform.
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