The Rotterdam Bar, Belfast's premier live music venue has been saved from demolition

lodge objection The campaign is not over as a final decision on the proposed demolition has yet to be made by the Planning Department. If you want to write a letter to Mr Savage at The Planning Dept Bedford House Bedford Street Belfast BT2 7FD then it should include the following details: -------------------------------------- Date: Name: Address: RE: PLANNING PROPOSAL Z/ 2007/1024/F ADDRESSED AS 54 PILOT ST, BELFAST. FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ROTTERDAM BAR. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I HEREBY PLACE MY OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF THE ROTTERDAM BAR. I do not however object to the sympathetic incorporation of the existing premises into any proposed development. ***This next bit is optional - but if you are going to write your own then make it a valid argument... and not "i met my girlfriend there..." or similar.*** My objection is directly concerned with the premises housing The Rotterdam Bar. This is a building with a history that includes it’s use as a prison or holding centre for ‘criminals’ being sent to Van Deimens Land (Tazmania) in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. The building is one of the last remaining embodiments of the strong maritime tradition in this area of Belfast known as Sailortown. The Rotterdam Bar has also developed a strong musical, cultural identity as many of the local artists who have done well internationally have honed their craft on it’s hallowed stage. It is not solely a ‘music venue’ but is also regarded as the spiritual home of Belfast’s original musicians… a bar where all the good and the great and sometimes the not so great, socialised and networked together. This is Belfast’s Cavern Club - a musicians ‘Mecca’. The building has a unique internal structure. The downstairs bar has two odd shaped brick pillars, a superb stone floor and a wonderful low ceiling. There is a wealth of character in the ‘nooks and crannies’ of this odd shaped place. To quote one previous owner: “There isn’t a right-angle in the place”. It is truly unique. The National Trust and the Environment and Heritage Service need to present a case that The Rotterdam Bar is worth incorporating into any potential development of that site. It could be viewed as a valuable asset and indeed a ‘draw’ to those who wish to live in any of the new dwellings planned for the area. No matter how much development goes on around this building – it should be kept for our future musicians… some of whom were already cutting their teeth on that hallowed stage when the closure of the bar occurred. The Rotterdam (fully restored, cared for and properly managed as a music bar) would be an asset to any development due to its historical, maritime, cultural and musical heritage remaining preserved and unaltered. This would be a vibrant tourist attraction! Signed:…………………. ------------------------------------------- To download a word .doc of this objection to edit, print, sign and post to the planning department right click here and choose "save target as"