The Square: They really did pave paradise and put up a parking lot
Entertainment / Wed 25th May 2022 at 06:42am
WHAT once was a thriving music venue is now a parking lot.
What was once priceless for its contribution to the community is now £3.95 for a days parking.
In the words of Joni Mitchell they really did “pave paradise and put up a parking lot”
We did ask Portfolio Holder Dan Swords on what the council’s plans were for a live music venue.
Cllr Swords said:
“The fact the old Square site is now being used as a car park is deeply upsetting and I will be meeting with the private company who own the site to find a way forward. It is simply unacceptable. It should never have been sold to them in the first place.
“We promised a new live music venue and we will deliver it. Our detailed plans for the town centre are well underway and I look forward to unveiling them soon – which include the new live music venue. Construction work on the new town centre will be underway within the year.
“We need live music back in our town and I look forward to seeing the new venue open and rocking as soon as possible.”
David
2022-05-25 07:41:36
I would recommend that nobody ever uses that car park,
Nicholas Taylor
2022-05-25 07:56:47
David, like so many things in life, it comes down to money. In this case it will be much cheaper to park here than at other locations in the Town Centre and of course is close to the hospital. As for Cllr Swords trying to find away forward, I suspect the firm managing the car park have been given a long term contract. No development will take place here whilst there are hundreds of flats on other sites soon to become available to purchase. As for the new music venue .....?
Tracy
2022-05-25 08:24:40
Thought it had been sold for housing ?
Kim Oconnor
2022-05-25 08:34:50
There's money in , them there car parks. There need it by the time they've concreted over everything thing. Be careful thou, this lot do like to fine you for everything.
Ian Captain Pennick
2022-05-25 08:41:18
Music venue ???? In the wake of local politicians supreme ineptitude throughout this squalid episode local musicians have managed To go back to grass roots , The Herald , the Shark and the Phoenix live lounge in the Harvey centre have kept the local scene going ..,not because , but inspite of them. There will be NO free music in the town park this year , again partially as a consequence of local politicians intransigence… but watch this space for next year as the friends of “Linkfest” will start a campaign soon to deliver music home again.
Stephen Patrick
2022-05-25 08:45:05
If you're not happy about it. Don't use it
Jim
2022-05-25 10:02:44
The Square is now to be a car park. Like people have said don't ever park there even if it's 50p for the day. What a disgrace and poor reflection on the town.
The man
2022-05-25 10:42:38
The square was originally under Essex county council as was basically a youth club. Me and some mates ( basically most of the local music community, less the well known local bands, who funnily enough supported the venue once it became popular) asked if we could play there as grass roots was not pubs but local community centres in housing estates and playing them would always cause noise problems with residents. As it became more popular Essex county council withdrew support (a bit)as it was not a youth club anymore but a thriving music/comedy venue. Though they did leave the peppercorn rent in place. It thrived in the eighties and nineties, but eventually all good things come to pass. Best to remember the good times and forget the bad. The phoenix resource Center is probably the best replacement we have in my opinion. Oh and I think a big thank you is due to Richard Holgarth and his team for keeping it going for so long.
Johnny
2022-05-25 10:44:35
I heard about the Squares legacy but never attended a concert or performance at the venue (probably not my scene..) However there were a lot of summer concerts and shows in the town park I witnessed..the country and westerns and Acker Bilk and his band!...showing my age! Isn't most of these disappearing Harlow shows down to either funding or lack of interest as most people are just about getting by and money is spent on essential living expenses as the cost of living is ridiculous at the moment! At least there's a few buskers in the town centre you can listen to for free 🤓....you never know Harlow might get a second O2 built by the new hospital Whoo rock on Tommy!🤩
Andy lee
2022-05-25 11:43:37
I was told that the Square site was sold off by Essex CC for £75,000 under the condition it was used for housing, next thing it's been flogged off for 2.3 million. A little questionable I'd say.
Johnny
2022-05-25 18:23:43
.. there's a lot of fiddling going on! and it's not from performing 😀
Tim
2022-05-26 01:50:00
Massively disappointed. Believed that it was knocked down for social-housing., along with YHA as part of a regeneration project. Even though I opposed it, still feel mugged off, exploited etc. only the Ukrainian situ & Partygate prevents additional superlatives. What a bunch of c*nts
Cristin
2022-05-30 10:38:49
Utterly disappointed that they have ripped the heart and soul out of the town to create a car park. This is inexcusable. Do we not already have enough car parks in the town? I can think of 5 within 5 minutes walk. How many live music venues do we have left?
Me
2022-06-20 19:35:32
Let's be under no illusion here, while the council are very keen on saying that they are interested in supporting local music we have a government that is simply only interested in money, selling things to make money, and smashing things down to sell the land. Cynical I know but tell me I'm wrong
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