Seven have been made to buy the The Peoples Centre building, which includes the Picket Music Venue and Pinball Wizard recording studio:

1. Local consortium- £500,000.00.
2. A Local Arts organisation- £2.1m- would accommodate the Picket- allow it to continue.
3. Social Development Company- £2.9m- conditional on planning permission and structural survey- would accommodate the Picket- allow it to continue.
4. Property Developers- unconditional approx. £3m- Residential- luxury flats.
5. Property Developers- unconditional, approx. £3m- Residential- luxury flats.
6. Private Individual ­unconditional, £3.4 m- no details.
7. The Picket Ltd. £2.5m ­ unable to raise the money.

The Peoples Centre Management Committee agreed to consider the unconditional bids, i.e. most money, as quickly as possible. However, some members of the Committee were not happy, they expressed concerns, and felt there was insufficient information regarding the bids to make a decision.

Who are the companies behind the bids?

What do they intend to do with the building?

Bob Braddock, Co-ordinator of the Peoples Centre, was asked to investigate further, and call a meeting in the next week or so, where he should provide more information. No alternative accommodation secured for the Peoples Centre.

The Peoples Centre Management Committee agreed to consider the unconditional bids ­ most money, as quickly as possible- however some members of the Committee were not happy, they expressed concerns, and felt there was insufficient information regarding the bids to make a decision:

TIMESCALE

Entertainment’s Licence for the Picket expires on 30th April 2004.
Notice to Tenants of the building ­ they must be out by 31st August 2004.
Picket staff expect to be made redundant in June 2004- possibly sooner
The offers are still under consideration, so please add your voice to the debate HERE:
 http://www.savethepicket.com/#organise