Smaller performances such as poetry, spoken word, comedy & gigs

I agree with @Jane Martin - I think the person in the planning department who has come up with these ideas does not fully understand the arts sector. We know lots of local artists and speak/ meet with them regularly. They have never once said they want a gig or a performance space... very strange... there's the Apple Cart Arts that could do with a hand... there's gigs 15 minutes away in Theatre Royal, so clearly not a well though through idea for Green Street. Also, does this person of African/ Afro-Caribbean descent featured on this page know that you've used their image and was it used with their permission?

Ditto my comments on performing arts space - it's a lot of work to run this type of space, to build and maintain audiences, ensure ongoing funding in a financial crisis etc. Would be better to support existing facilities and avoid the building based trap.