A petition has been signed by thousands in order to stop Liverpool Council from granting planning permission to a popular music venue…

The decision to grant planning permission to convert Princess Building for a different use has been met with criticism by the public. Over 2,600 people signed a petition asking Liverpool Council to deny the relevant planning permission.

The studio currently houses over 250 musicians and more than 50 bands who make up a large percentage of Liverpool’s well known music scene.

Thousands of angered people have signed a petition on the change.org website set up by Veselin Mihaylov who says changing the building will have a negative impact on the city’s music scene.

“If the building closes it will have a huge negative impact on the Liverpool music scene as there is a chronic shortage of flexible and permanent rehearsal space in the city,” said Veselin.

“Please help us protect one of Liverpool's music scene's most valuable assets by signing this petition to stop planning permission to convert the building away from its current use.”

The petition needs just over 2,300 more online signatures in order to gain a strong possibility that the council will review the planning permission, which many fear will see the venue turn into student housing.
 
Commenting on the planning permission, a petitioner, Melissa Bowker from Liverpool, said: “It’s vital for musicians to get their practice in to break into the demanding industry but finding a location that is not only suitable [for] their needs and comforting for unsupportive neighbours, is very [hard] to come by nowadays.. we have more than enough student flats in Liverpool.”

Former Liverpool resident, Paul McKeown, now living in Newport, is shocked at how many venues have been closed down.

“I'm shocked now when I come back to Liverpool and see how many venues etc have been closed down, and even more by how many buildings have been redeveloped into soulless student accommodation.
 
“Liverpool City council needs to stop this mindless redevelopment across the city... There is more to this city than students!

“For a city that is famous for its creative & artistic output we seem to be suffocating the creative spirit!? If the council keeps on with this closing of creative hubs & venues then we'll simply just lose all our creative & artistic types to other more nurturing cities”.

Another petition has also been created involving famous music venue, Edinburgh Picture House, to be kept as a live music venue after being sold off to be redeveloped into a pub.

The petition currently stands at just over 13,000 supporters, where according to the person who started the petition, after 140 comments were left on Edinburgh City Council’s planning page, it is now awaiting for its decision on Wetherspoon’s proposal to its change of use for the venue.