Topic: | Re:Re:Must be doing something right | |
Posted by: | Michael Brandt | |
Date/Time: | 03/01/13 22:02:00 |
Indeed they must be doing a few things right as it is better than it has been for a long time and the cinema has been great these past few years - although it has been a bit barren over the last 6 months. But Anthony has raised some very valid points, not what I would call a rant. Like many in Brentford who have long patronised the centre, he is absolutely right. Moving Watermans without assurances of a better facility could well kill it. I suspect the sudden interest in the car park after many years of it being inexplicably neglected and now revamped with charges is a precursor to a new site without any car parking or expensive parking. Regulars never park there so will continue not to. It was policed by staff in it's heyday and was often full ages before the start of a performance or event. Checking the car park should be part of the job, the same as checking the toilets, the locks, the fire extinguishers, lights & tickets. Just like one does at any venue. At the recent public meeting at St. Paul's Church hall over the development proposals, the one issue not from the developers that caused a ripple of consternation was the re-siting of Watermans. It clearly is something that is not universally popular and that seems to be the case with the many people I know who regularly use the cinema and other events. Those who consistently use the place and support it are it's backbone. To risk ostracising them is a big risk, especially in an era where arts funding may diminish even more and almost certainly won't increase for maybe a whole generation. The funny thing is that it seems to be history repeating itself. It was a hugely popular venue for all sorts of stuff and then someone decided it was too mainstream and all the other stuff that implies. So it all got changed and that was that. Desecrated for years. It's much better but still not a patch on the place it was. |