Music Venue Trust has released a heartfelt statement regarding the future of the Moth Club in East London.
This beloved venue plays a vital role in the local music scene, hosting regular club nights alongside outstanding one-off performances from major artists. Renowned figures like Dave Grohl and Lady Gaga have graced its stage, with current promoters including the folk collective Broadside Hacks and Deptford Northern Soul Club.
Last year, the Moth Club faced threats when planning permission was granted for a new apartment block right next to it.
Subsequently, the venue was confronted with two additional planning permissions for new flats on Morning Road, just a short distance away from the Moth Club.
A petition aimed at saving the Moth Club garnered 25,000 signatures, with the venue’s owners urging supporters to "keep the pressure on, sign and share the petition, and write to the council."
Now, Music Venue Trust has issued a statement concerning the venue’s future, indicating that venues throughout the country are under an “existential threat” due to Hackney Council refusing to grant the venue a public planning hearing.
“The Council has disregarded the Agent of Change principle, overlooked expert evidence, and failed to provide an essential acoustic report requested under FOI, while relying on assessments that independent specialists describe as ‘useless’,” they stated.
“For nearly a year, Moth Club and MVT have struggled to get meaningful engagement from planning officials, even after expressing serious concerns about flawed reports, contradictory information, and shortcomings in the consultation process.”
“If Hackney bypasses national policy here, it sets a disastrous precedent: any grassroots venue in the UK could find itself in a similar situation due to developers opting not to address noise issues. This isn’t merely a Moth Club concern. It tests whether planning protections for cultural venues have substantial significance.”
Learn more about the efforts of Music Venue Trust HERE.
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Music Venue Trust has released a heartfelt statement regarding the future of the Moth Club in East London. This cherished venue is an essential location for emerging