By
rights, those in charge of Leith Depot should have been in mourning this
weekend. As the long-running battle for the heart and soul of Stead’s Place, the
two-storey 1920s sandstone block on Leith Walk in Edinburgh threatened with
demolition by developers, looks towards some kind of endgame, its last
remaining tenants were set to close the doors on one of the city’s finest small
music venues for a final time.
As it
is, the series of gigs that were originally supposed to be a last gasp wake for
the bijou upstairs room of what was formerly regarded as Edinburgh’s worst pub
before being reinvented as Leith Depot will now have something of a triumphal
air. This is down to a last minute decision to extend Leith Depot’s lease for
another month.
Up
until this week, Stead’s Place owners Drum Property Group appeared determined to
stick to an eviction date of October 1 for all sitting tenants. This was
despite the fact that City of Edinburgh Council had unanimously rejected Drum’s
plans to build 471 student flats, a 56-bedroom hotel and 53 so-called
affordable flats alongside unspecified business and retail units. A proposed
reduction of flat numbers was also rejected. Despite this, Drum pressed on, and
lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government, with a decision from its
Reporter pending.
Yesterday,
however, Leith Depot issued a statement on social media to the effect that ‘on
the back of a positive meeting with our landlord yesterday, we are pleased to
say we have agreed a lease extension until 31st of October.’ The
statement went on to say that ‘For the time being, we continue business as
usual…’
Drum’s
seeming volte face can be regarded as a major victory for the efforts of Save
Leith Walk, the grassroots protest group whose colourful campaign against the
destruction of Stead’s Place captured the collective imagination. Empty shop
units were adorned with protest graffiti, poetry, quotes from German playwright
Bertolt Brecht and anti-gentrification tapestries. Earlier this month, the
boarded-up units were illuminated with washes of colour mock-ups of shops that
were very very open. If a proposed community buy-out of the block were to take
place, this could be made a reality.
Former
tenants of Stead’s Place include Leith Café, the charity-based Punjabi Junction
Café and The Bed Shop. Given that most businesses catered largely for local
customers, their eviction has raised accusations of social cleansing and
cultural vandalism intended to help pave the way for encroaching gentrification
of the area.
While
Leith Depot only opened five years ago, its refurbished downstairs bar quickly became
a favourite watering hole for the local musical fraternity, with the bar’s tiny
upstairs room becoming an affordable open-access home for both local and
national artists. This has made the Depot a vital part of Edinburgh’s
grassroots music scenes, with activities including monthly refugee benefit
shows, film clubs and afternoon gigs that enabled under 18s to attend. If and
when the bar and venue are closed, it will leave a social and creative hole in
the city’s musical infrastructure not easy to replace.
Drum’s
timing in their decision to extend Leith Depot’s lease is curious. As too is
the motivation behind such a move. It would have been easy enough to do
something similar from day one. As it is, Drum’s apparent willingness to allow
an entire block of shop units to lay empty regardless of its fate has left them
open to criticism, and any belated show of apparent good will has already been greeted
with caution.
While
welcoming Leith Depot’s stay of execution, Save Leith Walk issued their own
statement expressing their disappointment that ‘the landlord didn’t allow the
other businesses, which were successfully trading…to remain open too.’ The
statement went on to say that they hoped the announcement was ‘a sign of the developer’s willingness to
now work with the community and secure the long-term future of this building so
it can continue to be a home for locally-owned, independent shops and
businesses.’
In
other words, no-one should be lulled into any false sense of security. Drum,
like all developers accused by some of ripping the cultural hearts out of major
cities like Edinburgh, have deep pockets and expensive lawyers, and can afford
to play the long game.
If
the Scottish Government’s Reporter rules in Drum’s favour, that will be that.
Unlike developers, local communities have no similar right of appeal, and Stead’s
Place will be gone forever, replaced by blocks of soulless real estate.
If
the Reporter rules against Drum’s appeal, what happens next could be a
game-changer. For the last few weeks, residents of Leith postcodes have been
able to sign a petition in support of a proposed Community Buy Out of Stead’s
Place. Under the 2003 Scottish Land Reform Act, communities are empowered to
register an interest in land or buildings when they come up for sale. This is
on the proviso that 10 per cent of the registered community are in favour of
such a move.
While
Drum have not expressed any intention of selling up, leaving the block derelict
shouldn’t be an option. This should be especially the case given recent proposals
at UK level to allow councils to seize boarded up property and put it into
community use.
But
this is all a long way off. In the short-term, Edinburgh’s assorted music
communities along with civic campaigners can plot their next move while taking
advantage of the now free space in Leith Depot. With no gigs booked for October
due to the presumed eviction, it’s time once more for Edinburgh’s assorted
music communities to rally round, put on shows and fill Leith Depot to its
rafters. For the next month, one of the best small venues in the city is there
for the taking. Make the most of it while you can.
Leith
Depot will remain open until October 31. Events this weekend feature Kat Healy
and Friends, tonight, 7.30pm; One More Time with Feeling – a farewell gig for
Leith Depot with Molly Wyrd, Lou McLean, Suffrajitsu and more, Saturday, 2pm;
Reggae Got Soul – Farewell to the Depot, Saturday, 8pm; Leith Depot Presents;
Love Live Music 2019, Sunday, 2pm; Stranger Things Have Happened with Joseph
Malik, Sunday, 9pm.
The Herald, September 26th 2019
ends
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