| Topic: | Re:Re:Watermans Shock Closure | |
| Posted by: | Jeremy Parkinson | |
| Date/Time: | 28/03/24 08:48:00 |
| Cllr John Todd was going to raise the issue at the Borough Council meeting earlier this week but I don't think anything new emerged as a result of his questions. He called the decision draconian and criticised the lack of public meeting beforehand and the failure to consider any alternative uses for the site. As I understand it the Hounslow Arts Trust was given use of the site rent free. We should be entitled to an explanation as to why it has been ruled out that a similar deal with another arts organisation has been ruled out. On the other hand, there are a few conspiracy theories doing the rounds that the council has hurried along the closure of centre to profit from selling the land. As the site was effectively sold some time ago as part of the Albany Riverside deal, this seems to me unlikely. The only financial incentive I can see for the council is the accelerated delivery of housing (none of which is going to be social housing) and Community Infrastructure Levy payments from the developer (some of which would be delivered in kind with the building of the new Arts Centre.) |