The credit crunch rumbles on, and the latest victim has left the Cardiff music scene poorer for its loss. The Point was perhaps one of the best small to medium music venues you could wish to find, a converted church that had a magical sound quality, it will be sorely missed. The statment from the venue owners reads:
To all customers, promoters, fans, bands and supporters of The Point Cardiff Bay
It is with deep regret that we announce the closure of the venue today. On 27th February 2009 the Director of the Point Cardiff Bay Limited signed the appropriate notices to call a meeting of creditors pursuant to S98 Insolvency Act 1986.
A number of factors have contributed to this situation. Many of you will be aware that during 2008 we began receiving noise complaints from one or two neighbours that had moved into the new apartments that have been built next to the venue. After some difficult negotiations with the Cardiff City Council we undertook a huge amount of work to soundproof the venue in an attempt to secure its future. While that has largely been successful, the burden of the debt that we took on, together with greater restrictions in our banking facilities and more difficult trading conditions in the last few months, as well as the loss of revenue whilst the refurbishment works were undertaken, has meant we are unable to meet our current liabilities and have been left with no option but to seek voluntary liquidation.
Many people have put their heart and soul in turning the Point into the magical venue that it is and we have received huge and loyal support over the years from fans and bands alike. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for that support. It is a very sad day for us and for the live music scene in Cardiff.
If you have bought tickets for shows in advance, we must advise you to seek compensation from your credit card company. If you are a supplier to the Point, there will be further news about a creditors meeting in due course.
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This story is not really about the credit crunch.
It’s mainly about bad local planning.
The Point was a popular, well run and successful venue. The statement you quote above is virtually free from any spin. Financial pressure only became a problem when the venue went into debt for the expensive soundproofing work it was required by Cardiff Council to perform.
This happened as a direct result of one (1) complaint from the dweller of a new apartment recently built. This should never have happened. Everyone KNEW there was a venue operating in Mount Stuart Square.
The questions virtually all of us in Cardiff are asking is: why didn’t the planners recognise this when the apartment developers first applied? Why wasn’t the cost burden of soundproofing placed on them?
Because of the planners’ lack of foresight and lack of esteem for culture, we have lost this amazing venue and people have lost their jobs.
(Disclosure: I was an occasional DJ in The Point and have done other kinds of work for the venue over the years.)
Further reading:
Threats of court action
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7330680.stm
The original petition against the threatened court action over the noise complaint (including many supportive comments from local residents)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/thepoint/