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Save The London Drinker Beer Festival!
The Camden Centre in Bidborough Street,
London WC1, has been the home of North
London CAMRA's London Drinker Beer Festival
since 1985. In that time, the Festival has had more
than 100,000 visitors from London, Britain and
overseas.
Now this fine hall, the last Civic Hall in Camden, is
under threat.
Camden Council is thinking of selling off its Town
Hall to take advantage of the high property prices that
are resulting from the recent redevelopment due to the
presence of the Eurostar terminal.
But if they do sell, they would intend to close the
Camden Centre and turn it into offices. The proposals
are likely to go ahead in autumn 2009 – making this
coming March's Beer Festival the very last one
after 25 glorious events.
But it is not just the London Drinker Beer Festival
that is losing its venue.
Many other community events take place here, some
of which have been going for more than 40 years.
Venues of this size at a reasonable price that voluntary
and community groups such as ours can afford are few.
And the sad thing is that the hall actually
contributes financially to the Council. It really is an
asset from all viewpoints. So the Council's proposal is
simply raiding the family silver for today's gain with no
thought of tomorrow.
We are asking everyone who has ever been to the
Festival, or used the Centre, to help.
If you live in any part of the London Borough of
Camden, please write to your local councillor at
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/twocolumn/find-your-ward-by-street-name-or-postcode.en
Write to Keith Moffit, the Leader of the Council
www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/contacts/councilcontacts/
council-and-democracy/contact-the-leader-ofcamden-
council.en or at Camden Town Hall, Judd
Street, London, WC1H 9JE
Contact the three Kings Cross ward councillors:
abdul.hai@camden.gov.uk
geethika.jayatilaka@camden.gov.uk
jonathan.simpson@camden.gov.uk
Contact the London Assembly member:
Brian Coleman, GLA, City Hall, The Queen's Walk,
London SE1 2AA or email:
brian.coleman@london.gov.uk
Write to Frank Dobson, the local MP at:
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or
email:patelm@parliament.uk
Get names on the petition that we intend to
present to the Council.
See
www.camranorthlondon.org.uk/news
We can save this Centre – but only with your help.
Christine Cryne
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 47.
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