Thousands of people are calling on the council's help to find a new home for a music venue set for demolition.
The Acoustic Couch has been told it must find a new home by 2025 before the demolition of the High Street car park, which it is situated underneath.
The town centre car park was closed in October 2023 after engineers found its structure was crumbling.
It has since been earmarked for redevelopment as part of Bracknell Forest Council’s transformation of the town centre, with £2.2 million in funding secured from the government.
Following the demolition of the site, 142 homes and 2,000 square metres of commercial space will be built.
But the fate of The Acoustic Couch has been left hanging in the balance – after owners were told they must find a new site by 2025.
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Now, an online and written petition totalling 3,144 signatures have been collected, with the written petition set to be presented to a full council meeting at Bracknell Forest on Wednesday, November 27.
The Acoustic Couch has served as a music venue for a decade with capacity for 300 people, and provided rehearsal spaces, recording studios, control rooms.
It also offers work experience for college students and open mic nights for music and poetry as well as hosting charity events.
Darren Bridgman wrote on the petition: “Bracknell will be culturally a lot poorer without it.”
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Volunteer Jaen Amber said staff ‘don’t ever give up hope’, and that they needed an 'alternative affordable space'.
The business says it can't afford the prices of rent offered by the Lexicon shopping centre.
Prices are eight times what they are currently paying, according to Mrs Amber.
A go-fund me set up in 2023 has raised £2,460 which owners say will be used for the cost of the move and potential legal fees.
There are currently a dozen volunteers at the enterprise, who raise from 17 years old to people in their 60s.
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Mrs Amber, 58, said: “It would be a very sad day for Bracknell to lose us.
“There isn’t anything like what we have. Somehow, we’ve created the magic in what we have. We have people come in from absolutely all walks of life – music brings them together.”
The petition, set to be presented to all councillors next week, asks for members to 'help find a new home' for the 'unique' music venue.
It will be presented by Mr Bridgman and Mrs Amber.
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