Last ditch bid to save dance centre

The director of a dance school threatened with closure is pleading with the council to extend its lease and help it expand.

The future of the Bristol Dance Centre on Jacob’s Wells Road hangs in the balance after the council refused to extend the lease due to the financial instability of the school and the deteriorating condition of the building.

Artistic director Alan Roberts says the school has grand plans to improve and expand, granted by the council earlier this year, and needs to stay open so it can fundraise.

He is also criticising the council for implementing controlled parking in the evenings which he said has led to a sharp decline in users.

Bristol Dance School was opened in the former Victorian baths in 1980 (a new studio was opened in 1986 by pop star Ian Dury) and offers all types dance classes to children and adults, as well as performances from touring groups.

The council allowed them to lease the building for a peppercorn rent. But the 130-year-old building is in a state of disrepair and the roof needs a £600,000 replacement.

The director has started a petition calling for the council to extend the lease and revise the parking restrictions which he claims has led to a 50 per cent decrease in attendees of some classes. The petition had been signed by 1,250 people on Tuesday.

“I can’t stress the disappointment among the dance community in Bristol enough,” he told Bristol24/7. “It is unjustifiable that a City of Bristol’s size and importance does not currently regularly provide opportunities for the public to view world class dance.”

The petition calls on mayor George Ferguson and Simon Cook, assistant mayor for place, to grant the school a three-year lease extension to enable it to build a bid for a community asset transfer.

Cook said: “I have had comprehensive discussions about the Bristol Dance Centre with its director and members of the board and was recently given a tour of the building.

“Unfortunately, the building is not in a fit state to support a robust business plan as responsibility for the repairs lie with the Dance Centre and the business is unlikely to be able to find the capital for the urgent renovation required.

“In light of the poor condition of the building, we have made the difficult decision that we are unable to grant another lease extension as the centre is unlikely to be able to run the business on a sustainable basis.

“I regret that the council has to take this course of action and we will have discussions with the Arts Council about how we take forward dance as an art form in Bristol.”

Responding to requests to modify the controlled parking outside the school, a city council spokesperson said it had worked with the school to make sure the restrictions were appropriate.

“Officers have carried out several surveys that have found there to be ample parking capacity within walking distance of the centre’s building.

“However, the loading restrictions outside the centre were relaxed to allow people to unload equipment and use it as a drop off and pick up point,” they said.

Three additional permit holder bays, where there are currently double yellow lines immediately north of the dance centre, are planned to be installed as part of the Cliftonwood and Hotwells review which was due to start on Monday.

The Bristol Dance Centre petition can be signed here.