SAVE THE CORN-X LEEDS!

As most people form Leeds know, the Corn Exchange plays a major part in the city's youth alternative culture and has done for decades. On any day you'll see goths, punks, emo kids and just general teenagers meeting there, making new mates, getting along and having fun.

POLICE ASBO'S DEEPER SECRET?
Just over a year ago the owners of the building (Eagle Star Life Assurance / Zurich) and the centre management (Phoenix Beard) pressurised West Yorkshire Police, who were far from reluctant to act, to get rid of this young community through months intimidation; ranging from placing dozens of police officers outside the centre each weekend, arresting people for standing in the 'wrong place' and serving Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) on kids for doing what kids do. They have also tried a smear campaign telling people that the Corn-X is a hotspot for drugs and underage drinking when this is infact far from the truth. At first the police and owners claimed the reasoning for their actions was that people gathering outside were intimidating those shopping there, but this didn't wash because it is a fact that most of the custom of shops inside comes from the youth who meet outside. Now it's appearing that the police smear campaign was just to try and get rid of the young community outside so the sale of the building can go ahead and the Corn-x can be redeveloped as a posh food emporium.


LEEDS ALTERNATIVE SCENE AT THREAT
The Corn Exchange is central to the alternative scene in Leeds due to it's high profile; it is one of the only places teenagers in the city hang out and keep entertained by friends instead of going off with a few mates and drinking in parks, or being reckless. Without it many people would lose friends they have seen on a weekendly basis; as well as the tight community where there is a large range of people from all different walks of life. If someone has something to talk about, there is always someone of their own age there who can help and even share experiences.


SMALL TRADERS WILL SUFFER
The stores inside the centre have been given until January to find an alternative premises, or face closure. These shops are small traders and cannot afford to move and pay the expensive rent for the other places in Leeds City Centre; and aside from the money aspect there is a lack of empty premises in town as they are all being bought out by large retailers - this is also another contributor to the rise in costs for renting space. Either way these shops will have to close down which will have an effect on the local economy, as well as the customers who shop there as due to many of the stores being specialist traders. Not only shops inside the Corn-X will suffer, but many of the alternative stores in the vicinity will lose a large amount of custom as they are a tight community of traders; not forgetting that there will be a lack of customers around for them.


YET ANOTHER FOOD STORE?
Leeds City Centre is full of high priced food stores, emporiums and restaurants - there is simply no need for more. The stores who currently exist in this line of business will lose a lot of custom if the Corn-C closes and is re-developed as a food emporium. This will no doubt have a heavy impact on their annual income and brings about the question if they will be able to afford rental for their stores - if they close then the local economy will suffer.


THE CLOSURE OF THE CORN-X CHANGE EFFECTS EVERYONE FROM TEENAGERS TO ADULTS TO TRADERS.
HELP SAVE THE LEEDS CORN-EXCHANGE, SAVE THE ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY AND SAVE THE LOCAL ECONOMY



CONTACT THE CORN EXCHANGE MANAGEMENT AND OWNERS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THEM SELLING IT:

THE CORN EXCHANGE
Call Lane,
Leeds, LS1 7BR
Tel: 0113 234 0363
Fax: 0113 234 1745
 info.cornx@btconnect.com



THE CORN-X IS MANAGED BY PHOENIX BEARD:
7-10 Chandos St
London
W1G 9EH
Tel: 020 7323 4681
Fax: 020 7436 3581
www.phoenix-beard.co.uk
 info@phoenix-beard.co.uk
Rod Witton is the manager in charge of the Corn-X -  rod.witton@phoenix-beard.co.uk




LETTINGS AT THE CORN-X ARE DONE BY CENTRAL RETAIL
Concordia Street,
Leeds, LS1 4ES
Tel: 0113 244 8668
Fax: 0113 244 8766
 james@central-retail.co.uk,  enquiries@central-retail.co.uk
 Adrian@central-retail.co.uk,  Tom@central-retail.co.uk,  simon@central-retail.co.uk



THE CORN EXCHANGE IS OWNED BY ZURICH ASSURANCE LTD
UK Life Centre,
Station Road,
Swindon,
Wiltshire, SN1 1EL
FREEPHONE: 08000 966 233
Tel: 01793 514514 -or- 08705 221311
www.zurich.co.uk
 uk.webmaster@uk.zurich.com

Zurich Assurance Ltd
The Grange
Bishops Cleeve
Cheltenham
Gloucester
GL52 8XX

Zurich
1 East Parade
Leeds, LS1 2AA
Tel: 0113 243 3171
 zmleedsclaims@uk.zurich.com