How would you use the old Brixton cycle shop if it were your space?

[editor]

surely there's only so much edgy art that could fit in hoxton and brixton at any one time?

What is 'edgy art' anyway?!!

 

[IntoStella]

So you'd rather the building stay empty, yes?

Don't misquote me.

I don't know the background of your (obvious) personal beef with the people involved

Yes you do, unless you've been on the moon the past year.

And unless they've got some hidden plans up their sleeves,

I've never known them not to have.

I just don't get all this angry stuff about Hoxton, Tarquins, 'edgy' 'art' and skinny lattes.

When a clique has a history of being anti-egalitarian, anti-democratic, anti-everything except furthering their own personal interests, it's hard to have much confidence in their future actions.

 

[editor]

Don't misquote me.

Where did I "misquote" you?
I just asked you a question.



So what is the answer? Would you prefer it if the building stayed empty rather than having the squatters there?

 

[IntoStella]

Where did I "misquote" you?
I just asked you a question.



So what is the answer? Would you prefer it if the building stayed empty rather than having the squatters there?

I'd rather it was being run by people I had a molecule of trust in. Please don't try to manoeuvre me into some sort of "Intostella says squatters bad, empty building good" scenario when you know that is not the case.

Besides, they can't do anything to hurt you.

 

[editor]

Please don't try to manoeuvre me into some sort of "Intostella says squatters bad, empty building good" scenario when you know that is not the case.

I do wish you'd stop reading things I haven't said or meant into my posts, you know.

I was just asking you what you thought, that's all.

 

[Blagsta]

A community IT centre would be a good idea. Utilising recycled technology (such as the Reduntant Technology Initiative in Sheffield or A2RT in Brum) and running free or cheap IT skills workshops.

 

[JWH]

Is there some way it could act as a kind of "beacon" to repel the drug dealers? I don't mean in an aggressive way, if you know what I mean.

 

[newbie]

not a treatment centre then?

 

[Streathamite]

A community IT centre would be a good idea. Utilising recycled technology (such as the Reduntant Technology Initiative in Sheffield or A2RT in Brum) and running free or cheap IT skills workshops.

I love this idea. teaching IT and hi-tech skills like that, to everyone around. V empowering. also could run a cheap cybercaff

 

[TeeJay]

A community IT centre would be a good idea. Utilising recycled technology (such as the Reduntant Technology Initiative in Sheffield or A2RT in Brum) and running free or cheap IT skills workshops.

Or like Comm-tech based at Somerleyton Road in Brixton?

http://www.communitytechnology.org.uk/

 

[IntoStella]

not a treatment centre then?

I think it would be an ideal site for a drug treatment centre. It's right where it's needed and you haven't got a lot of owner-occupiers to NIMBY it into oblivion.

A beacon to repel the dealers would be great, JWH. I only hope it doesn't turn out instead to be a beacon to attract the drug tourists.

 

[netbob]

I think it would be an ideal site for a drug treatment centre. It's right where it's needed and you haven't got a lot of owner-occupiers to NIMBY it into oblivion.

A beacon to repel the dealers would be great, JWH. I only hope it doesn't turn out instead to be a beacon to attract the drug tourists.

Sounds like an idea. The only downside I can think of is delay - the plans for the current site seem quite far advanced. Any new site would probably need to go through all the usual rigmarole. Plus you can guarantee someone will object. Nimbyism isnt the perserve of owner-occupiers.

 

[editor]

A community IT centre would be a good idea. Utilising recycled technology (such as the Reduntant Technology Initiative in Sheffield or A2RT in Brum) and running free or cheap IT skills workshops.

Good idea.

Funnily enough, there was some suggestion that the building be used for internet/IT-related stuff from the previous owners.

urban75 was asked to get involved but, mindful of the track record of the owners, I had no interest in the thing.

 

[editor]

I think it would be an ideal site for a drug treatment centre. It's right where it's needed and you haven't got a lot of owner-occupiers to NIMBY it into oblivion.

Let's hope it wouldn't attract these unsavoury types:

Drug dealers 'targeted clinics'
Drug dealers who targeted a city's rehab clinics with "calling cards" for cut-price heroin and crack have moved on, a drugs charity has said.

Needle exchange project worker Jason Roberts said: "These dealers were seeking out people who were clean or in recovery in order to sell more heroin."

He added: "They were sticking calling cards up outside rehab exits."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4280012.stm

I would have thought that the old Cooltan/Voice building might now be a better location for a clinic, btw. But that's a different story.

 

[netbob]

"These dealers were seeking out people who were clean or in recovery in order to sell more heroin."

What nice people.

Interesting article on the bbc site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4215730.stm

Britain's drug treatment services are still largely focused on opiate addiction, despite recent studies finding there are now more users of crack than heroin.

As far as I know this is the case for the proposed centre.

 

[IntoStella]

Sounds like an idea. The only downside I can think of is delay - the plans for the current site seem quite far advanced. Any new site would probably need to go through all the usual rigmarole. Plus you can guarantee someone will object. Nimbyism isnt the perserve of owner-occupiers.

True.

But I suspect much of the objection to the Brighton Terrace project came from the leafy environs of Trinity Gardens (not you, orang utan ). A far cry from ''edgy'' CHL

 

[IntoStella]

Let's hope it wouldn't attract these unsavoury types:I would have thought that the old Cooltan/Voice building might now be a better location for a clinic, btw. But that's a different story.

Yeah, there was a treatment centre next to where I work and I've seen this kind of thing going on. A very sorry state of affairs. In an ideal world, local residents would side with the service and the clients to oust these predators.

 

[Blagsta]

Or like Comm-tech based at Somerleyton Road in Brixton?

http://www.communitytechnology.org.uk/

Yes, I was trying to remember their name. I don't know if they run IT workshops though.

 

[TeeJay]

Yes, I was trying to remember their name. I don't know if they run IT workshops though.

Although I know some of the people involved I haven't been to visit for ages. They do have some info here:

Support and Training: http://www.communitytechnology.org.uk/support/index.php

Training: http://www.communitytechnology.org.uk/support/support_training.php

 

[Dave Mullen]

Indeed. I wouldn't classify them as 'Albert regulars' though. I don't classify you as a demented old piss-reeking wino because you drink in the Beehive* (when you're feeling like swanking it up a bit ), so I'd appreciate not being lumped in with the Brixton Trustie Movement -- as, I'm sure, would most Albert regulars, who don't fit that Hoxton-tastic profile at all.

Ironically, Dave, they use the term "Albert regular" as a term of abuse, too. Maybe you have more in common with them than you think.

*Yes, yes, cue the old anna key joke again.

I wasn't trying to lump anyone in with anyone else. All I said was for something to be done with the Brixton Cycle Shop any discussion would also need to include people who don't happen to frequent the Albert. I wish people would stop getting touchy every time I post. I'm quite harmless really.

 

[Dave Mullen]

Have you actualy visited the place, or is this some sort of general moan?

If you go in there now, you'll see a big book where people are invited to write down their ideas for the place, propose exhibitions, contribute their feedback etc.

I didn't spot any of these "self indulgent twats" you were going on about and found that then place felt a bit like Cooltan to me, and that place definitely wasn't 'elitist'

I wasn't around Brixton at the time of Cooltan so I'm a bit lost there. If you can tell me when its open I'll try and pop along. I think another good idea would be some sort of project for kids between 11 -16 which would hopefully act as a disincentive to get involved in delinquent activities.

I have nothing against Art but when you mention art people think of talentless people like Damien Hurst and Tracy Emin who abuse art for the sake of their own self - aggrandisement and then encourage negative perceptions of art.

 

[editor]

I have nothing against Art but when you mention art people think of talentless people like Damien Hurst and Tracy Emin who abuse art for the sake of their own self - aggrandisement and then encourage negative perceptions of art.

I think you're referring to your own preconceptions there.

The art world is far, far, far bigger than Damien Hurst and Tracy Emin and they've got absolutely nothing to do with the kind of thing that goes on at Brixton Arts and similar community arts projects.

Have you much of an interest in art, btw, because you seem to go very negative at the mere mention of the word ("self indulgent twats", "talentless people" etc etc).

 

[linerider]

I wasn't around Brixton at the time of Cooltan so I'm a bit lost there. If you can tell me when its open I'll try and pop along. I think another good idea would be some sort of project for kids between 11 -16 which would hopefully act as a disincentive to get involved in delinquent activities.

I have nothing against Art but when you mention art people think of talentless people like Damien Hurst and Tracy Emin who abuse art for the sake of their own self - aggrandisement and then encourage negative perceptions of art.

isn't this just a cut and paste from the daily mail letters page?

 

[Dave Mullen]

I think you're referring to your own preconceptions there.

The art world is far, far, far bigger than Damien Hurst and Tracy Emin and they've got absolutely nothing to do with the kind of thing that goes on at Brixton Arts and similar community arts projects.

Have you much of an interest in art, btw, because you seem to go very negative at the mere mention of the word ("self indulgent twats", "talentless people" etc etc).

As I've said before I actually appreciate art but a lot of stuff that passes as art is just pretentiousness like the shite that wins the Turner Prize year on year. The Self indulgent twats are the protagonists of such nonsense. Have I made myself clear?

 

[editor]

Have I made myself clear?

Sure. You hate some internationally renown artists because you think that their work is pretentious.

But what's it got to do with the community art on display in Brixton (you know - the stuff you still haven't troubled yourself to actually look at)?

 

[IntoStella]

Sure. You hate some internationally renown artists because you think that their work is pretentious.

But what's it got to do with the community art on display in Brixton (you know - the stuff you still haven't troubled yourself to actually look at)?

To be fair, some of it is abslutely bollocks.

 

[Dave Mullen]

Sure. You hate some internationally renown artists because you think that their work is pretentious.

But what's it got to do with the community art on display in Brixton (you know - the stuff you still haven't troubled yourself to actually look at)?

I have been to quite a lot of arty events over the years although not at Brixton Cycles and there is a lot of stuff that is absolute bollocks. For example I heard of one case where someone bought a toy gun in Woolworths and put it in a box and wrote a caption saying "think outside the box".

I have said over and over that I am actually very fond of art but not the sort of shit in the example above which in my view is just wank.

 

[IntoStella]

I have been to quite a lot of arty events over the years although not at Brixton Cycles and there is a lot of stuff that is absolute bollocks. For example I heard of one case where someone bought a toy gun in Woolworths and put it in a box and wrote a caption saying "think outside the box".

I have said over and over that I am actually very fond of art but not the sort of shit in the example above which in my view is just wank.

hear hear

 

[IntoStella]

I mean.

 

[Dave Mullen]

isn't this just a cut and paste from the daily mail letters page?

How do you work that one out? Numerous studies have shown that juvenile offending is largely brought about as a result of kids having nothing to do another factor is the closure of youth clubs youth centres. the daily mails answer to verything is lock 'em up & throw away the key which is certainly not what I am advocating here. Who knows such a centre for youth may actually nurture some creative talent.