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Cable MD responds to Network Rail
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 8 May 2013
The Managing Director of the Cable nightclub in London has responded to a statement issued by Network Rail. As previously reported, bailiffs acting on behalf of the railway operator repossessed the space under London Bridge Station which the club occupied last week, having gained an entry order through the courts.
On Friday a spokesperson for Network Rail told CMU: “This club occupies one of our arches under London Bridge station that will form part of the rebuilding and modernisation of this critical station that serves some 180,000 passengers a day, and forms the central hub of the £6 billion Thameslink upgrade programme. Our plans for the station have long been in the public domain and we gave our tenant two years notice of the need to take back possession to enable us to start our work on this essential project”.
However, Cable MD Ryan Ashmore disputes this, telling CMU yesterday: “Network Rail claim in their statement that the plans have long been in the public domain, yet the plans approved on the Southwark Council planning website actually show a different scheme for the [proposed new] stairs that would not affect the club. Network Rail first notified us two years ago of their about turn concerning their sudden need for the space, long after Cable had opened”.
He continued: “Cable have repeatedly questioned Network Rail about the reasons and justification for needing to destroy the club and the surprise change of plans that appeared out of the blue. The shock new plans could easily have been changed once Network Rail became aware they would be destroying Cable”.
Finally, he said: “Network Rail had other options and alternatives but decided to go with the only option that destroyed Cable. In fact, sadly, our attempts to reach resolution with Network Rail have been ignored”.
As previously reported, Cable founder Euan Johnston last week issued a statement saying that it was Network Rail which originally broached the idea of him launching a new club under London Bridge Station, adding that he was assured at the time that the space would not be affected by redevelopment plans for the station. As a result, he says, he invested millions of pounds in setting up the new venue assuming it had a long future ahead of it.
