Brixton Academy: More than 50,000 support saving ‘iconic’ music venue under threat after crowd crush tragedy | UK News

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Greater than 50,000 folks help saving an “iconic” music venue in London, which was compelled to shut due to security issues after two folks died in a crowd crush.

A petition calling for the O2 Brixton Academy to reopen has surpassed 50,000 signatures.

Two folks – Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and Gaby Hutchinson, 23 – died in hospital from their accidents after the crush outdoors the venue throughout a gig by Afrobeat artist Asake on 15 December 2022.

Ten folks have been handled on the scene by the London Ambulance Service on the evening of the overcrowding. Eight of them have been taken to hospital for additional care.

Lambeth Council ordered the venue to shut in December by suspending its licence. The Metropolitan Police had requested the council to behave and now helps closing Brixton Academy for good.

On 16 January, the academy’s licence was suspended for 3 months by Lambeth councillors and a call on whether or not to reopen the positioning is anticipated to be determined at an upcoming licensing assembly.

The organiser of the petition “Save Brixton Academy”, posted on Change.org, believes the venue can reopen with out placing folks in danger.

Academy Music Group (AMG), the agency which runs the venue, additionally argue its proposals would “allow the venue to reopen safely”.

‘What occurred there was a tragedy, however attributable to folks’

The petition, created by Stuart O’Brien, stated the venue’s closure would have a “devastating” impact on the native economic system.

“Brixton Academy is an iconic London music venue and will this stop to be so, one other a part of the musical panorama and historical past is misplaced perpetually,” the petition organiser stated.

He added: “What occurred there was a tragedy, however attributable to folks.

“Revoke the safety agency’s licence and usher in somebody sufficient advisable by the police… Herald new safety procedures together with crowd management to make sure a repeat does not occur.

“However let’s not flip this venue into soulless flats as would greater than doubtless occur within the occasion of everlasting closure.”

Mr O’Brien continued: “I personally have been to a whole lot of gigs in my lifetime, a lot of them right here and I’ve by no means as soon as felt like security was a problem!

“So please, let’s assist maintain music dwell and Save Brixton Academy!”

Members of well-known bands, akin to Blur and The Chemical Brothers, have supported the petition.

There may be additionally robust help for the petition on social media.

“Brixton Academy is likely one of the most storied music venues in London, numerous legends have graced that stage together with a few of our greatest and brightest acts immediately. Shutting it down can be simply the most recent institution assault on the humanities within the UK,” journalist Roisin O’Connor stated on Twitter.

Metropolitan Police helps full Brixton Academy closure

Momentum to help the petition gathered tempo in April, when it was revealed that the Metropolitan Police helps a full closure of the venue.

The power has apparently misplaced confidence in its operators to run occasions safely.

The Met stated in an announcement: “On 14 April, the Met police submitted an utility for a evaluation of [the] premises licence to Lambeth Council and might be searching for a revocation of the licence.

“This matter might be determined at a future council sub-committee listening to on a date to be confirmed.”

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