Manics star calls for 'magical' venue to be saved

Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire has called for a "magical" venue which played host to the band to be saved.

Blackwood Miners' Institute in the band's hometown has also hosted acts including Stereophonics, Black Sabbath and Coldplay.

But Caerphilly council has withdrawn its funding ahead of its centenary year, as it makes "difficult decisions" and makes savings.

Current Coldplay promoter, Scott Lavender, who worked there in the 90s said the venue was “irreplaceable”.

More than 1,000 people marched through the town on Saturday, calling for the council to reconsider.

The Manic Street Preachers played a homecoming gig at the venue for BBC Radio 2 in 2011, which Nicky Wire described as “really beautiful”.

He also remembers playing snooker there when he was young, adding: “It was the most magical place to go.

“I spent so many summers being really bad a snooker but thinking I could be the next Alex Higgins.

“Blackwood was our high street, it does feel incredibly sad.

“I know councils are in a terrible position with budgets and money is short but it would be very said if that was to close down."

Nicky’s brother, poet and playwright Patrick Jones is a ,former writer in residence at the institute and supported Billy Bragg there.

“I think it would be a tragedy to lose it," Patrick said.

“I started a young writers workshop there - let’s get our priorities right - let’s have a bit more belief and vision in what we really stand for."

Caerphilly council plans to withdraw the £347,000 a year it provides to Blackwood Miners' Institute, which could see the venue mothballed in December.

The council said it would then “explore options for the facility to be run in a different way in the future”.

The council said it must find savings of around £45m over the next two years, on top of £20m of savings already identified.

Leader Sean Morgan said: “We can’t continue to run our services in the way we always have.

"We need to explore all options and consider ways of doing things differently.”

Blackwood Miners Institute was built in 1925 and was funded by miners donating a portion of their pay.

Next year will mark its centenary.

International acts and the best of the Welsh music scene have played there, including Super Furry Animals, Stereophonics and Feeder.

During the rise of Britpop, bands such as Ash, Placebo, Ocean Colour Scene and Coldplay played there.

Current Coldplay promoter, Scott Lavender started his career in the 1990s as the venue's deputy manager.

“It holds a special place in my heart”, he said.

He said it gave emerging bands a chance to play original music.

“We proved to ourselves and to the local audiences that the valleys had something significant to contribute to this part of the culture”, he said.

He believes these types of venues need to be kept alive, adding: "Places where talent is nurtured, where community spirit thrives."

Geoff Cripps was in the band The Chartists and now sits on an advisory panel for the institute.

He said artists and performers have been in touch with him to try and keep the venue open, and fears if it is mothballed it will not reopen.

On Saturday campaigners marched through Blackwood to protest the proposed closure.

“Miners used to pay from their wages every week to sustain these buildings, as a place of recreation, as a place of learning,” Mr Cripps said.

“But it has a future as well, it’s not just about the past - given the state of high streets in the UK at the moment, what people are looking for is a different offer, and in fact a different offering in their communities - so they don’t always have to go to the big city for their entertainment”.

A petition has been launched to try and keep the venue open.

Wayne Thomas, who heads up the south Wales chapter of the Nation Union of Mineworkers, he said the building is “priceless”.

“Our forefathers built this for a purpose, there was a need in this community and that need is still there a hundred years on," he said.

Ron Stoate, who worked underground as a miner for close to three decades, said every performance he attends is “full” and that people come from across the UK to see shows there.

“It’s a legacy to the miners that have gone before us - there’s a lot of sadness, upset and anger," he said.

The BECTU union, which represents workers in the entertainment and media industry, said up to 16 people face losing their jobs if the building is closed.

Carwyn Donovan from the union said the building was built to “signify the importance of ordinary people”.

“At a time of such fracture in our communities, and with the potential for that fracture to continue, this venue offers a place to come together through arts and culture”, he said.

“Our concern is that it will never re-open”.

A consultation on withdrawing funding to Blackwood Miners' Institute ends on 10 September.

In a statement, Caerphilly council leader Sean Morgan said: “We have a duty to protect the public purse, so we will be looking at a range of savings options, particularly services that are subject to high subsidy, are non-statutory or can be delivered in a different way.

“I want to ensure that residents have a voice in this process, so there will be opportunities to get involved and have your say as we consider these options.

"It is vitally important that you engage in this process to help shape the way we deliver our services in future."