Who would want credit for this?

In response to last weeks letter from Mr Wright. I’m uncertain as to why anyone would actually want to take credit for bludgeoning Leamington LAMP (and Hybrid Arts) into its current sorry state. Not only is the closure of LAMP a major blow to the regions cultural offer, there are also many hidden effects.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jan 2015, 07:04 BST

As we all know, over the last five years youth services faced with austerity have been forced to close clubs and services. Some surviving services were based at LAMP. Our youth clubs ‘Youth of Today’ and ‘Acoustic Youth’ carried on because of our independence from the local authority and our ability to grant-fund- raise for such services. One of the knock-on effects of the so- called ‘compromise’ has been the closure of not one, but both youth clubs based at the building. It has forced the laying off of several staff, including a full-time teacher.

Both Hybrid Arts and Leamington LAMP have come close to financial ruin with the loss, not only of revenue from the venue but the cancellation and direct loss of funding grants to support cultural services. In addition, the ‘compromise’ includes being forced to close the building at 9pm. This has already led to cancellations from non-music groups wishing to hire the facilities. I can’t imagine that anyone would want to take credit for this.

Timothy Ellis, director, Leamington LAMP/Hybrid:two