New Petition for the Save Bray Studios Campaign

Along with the renewed interest in the campaign to save the historic Bray Film Studios near Windsor, a new attempt is being made to create awareness at the widest possible level.

Our Facebook group has well over 3000 members, but simply not everyone is or wants to be on Facebook. One of the campaign activists has prepared a electronic Petition to supplement the campaign.

Whether you are part of that group or not, please take time to sign the online Petition for the campaign.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savebraystudiospetition/

The petition states:

SAVE BRAY STUDIOS NOW 

Bray Studios is part of our great cultural history with the Main house dating back to the 1600’s and later our cinema legacy.

We intend to preserve it.

The iconic Bray Studios, home of Hammer Horror films, the early roots of the Special Effects  

and classic movies in Britain and the cherished venue for top British musicians and rock bands is under threat of being turned into 7 “executive homes”.

The entire site consisting of studios, sound stages, workshops and backlot with the heritage Grade II listed Main House has been deliberately run into the ground, in order to keep business out and declare the property unviable and unprofitable in order to push through planning permission. 

We have a comprehensive list of eminent directors, producers, musicians and rock stars, who wanted to book stage space and were turned away with the excuse that the studio was fully booked.

The British Film Industry, the Music Industry NEED YOUR SUPORT

 Please help us by signing this petition and sending letters of support to Save Bray Studios Facebook page these will be presented to government bodies,

Thank you. 

Mail on Sunday - Save Bray Article

The campaign to Save Bray Studios isn't through yet. While planning permission was granted last year for the redevelopment, the campaign has been quietly building momentum again and is making renewed attempts to bring the plight of the complex to the attention of the world once more. A number of key figures in the film and entertainment industry are weighing in.

Redevelopment could be imminent. We simply don't know when the bulldozers will be brought in (possibly sooner than later).

The Mail On Sunday have published an article today on the threat to the studio. While very centred on the Hammer history (Hammer/Exclusive founded the studio, and are very much back in vogue, so it makes good sense), it also indicates the campaign has the support of Richard O'Brien (whose cult film Rocky Horror Picture Show was shot at the studio) and Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, The Fisher King, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus) who has also used the studio.

You can read the article for yourself here: http://bit.ly/1891IQP

Last day to get comments in to architects of proposed Bray Film Studios redevelopment

If you can, please email the architects of the proposed Bray Film Studios redevelopment - Pegasus Planning Group - with your concerns regarding the plans. They have asked for submissions by 10th August (ie. tomorrow). 

Because of copyright restrictions I can't post the leaflet itself on here, but I can direct you to the specific (weighted) questions that have been posed. 

The specific questions asked on the pamphlet that was distributed at the Bray exhibition are as follows: 

1. Do you support the proposed demolition of the large studio buildings and removal of the areas of hardstanding? Yes / No 

2. Do you support the principle of retaining Down Place and returning it to its former residential use? Yes / No 

3. Do you agree that the proposals would enhance the openness and visual amenities of the greenbelt? Yes / No 

4. Do you agree that the density of the proposed development is appropriate? Yes / No 

5. Do you agree that the proposals will enhance the setting of the listed building? Yes / No 

6. Do you agree that it is appropriate to retain an element of employment as part of the overall development? Yes / No 

7. Are there alternative proposals that should be considered such as storage and distribution? A more standard style of residential redevelopment? Yes / No 

8. Other Comments 

Your name [Optional] 

Road name / Post Code [Optional] 

Please take the time and email comments to admin@pegasuspg.co.uk 

We would encourage you to oppose the current redevelopment plans, which do not address the issue of maintaining the use of Bray Studios as a film studio, or retaining the existing buildings. 

Again this week I have reports from a contact interested in purchasing the property or leasing it for film production, who are unable to make contact with the owner Neville Hendricks. The various companies including Bray Management are seemingly unwilling to co-operate and open discussions - in stark contrast to what Hendricks said to parties at the exhibition last month. 

It may also be prudent to email you concerns to the Maidenhead/Windsor Planning Council (planning.maidenhead@rbwm.gov.uk) and the Department for Culture Media and Sport (enquiries@culture.gov.uk). Whilst formal planning isn't in yet, voicing concern is very important. 

Thanks again to everyone for your support. 

Robertwww.savebraystudios.com

Bray Management Ltd reveal plans

UPDATE (20/7/2010): PLEASE NOTE: Open day is next TUESDAY 27TH JULY.
Also, the email contact for the developers is admin@pegasuspg.co.uk

Finally we now know the full scale of Bray Management Ltd.'s plans for Bray Studios.

We have been forwarded a copy of the leaflet that has been sent to local residents outlining the plan for development.

The main points from the plans are:

• Demolition of the entirety of the existing Bray Studios buildings
• Conversion of the listed Down Place house, back into a private residential property (which will be lived in by the owner of Bray Management Ltd. and his family)
• Construction on the site of 7 residential properties 
• Construction of a new 'media centre' which will employ approx 25 people on site

Effectively this means the end of Bray Studios, the historic independent film studio founded in 1951 by the young Hammer Films company as Exclusive Studios. A property which has been home to hundred of film and television programmes, and music recording over the last 59 years.

The plans also suggest that the development will ensure a substantial reduction in the HGV traffic to the site - as traffic is currently a concern in the area, as is likely a point which will be used to persuade the council to accept the proposals.

The development is being handled on behalf of the owners by the Pegasus Planning Group. 

A public 'exhibition' is being held on Tuesday 27th July at Bray Film Studios, Water Oakley, Windsor, SL4 5UG between 3 and 8pm. Visitors should report to security on arrival. Comment sheets are being provided and can be deposited at the venue.

Pegasus have also said they are willing to hear from local residents and other interested parties during the current consultation. Comments can be emailed to admin@pegasuspg.co.uk. All comments are due before 10 August 2010.

We would encourage supporters of the Save Bray Studios campaign to contact Pegasus to voice their dissatisfaction at the closure of the studios, and to stress the importance of its continued existence as a film site. Please refrain from abusive messages, and offensive language.

The leaflet does make the following comment "Whilst reuse of the existing buildings for alternative purposes remains an option, it is considered that the site offers opportunities for redevelopment that will deliver wider benefits." This suggests that if a strong case is made the Studio still has a chance to be saved.

Pegasus also indicate that formal planning applications will be made in the next 1-2 months.

A Response

Speaking personally, I have little objection to Down Place being converted back at least in some way to housing. Certainly it would make a lovely residence for any millionaire. The building has retained live-in residents throughout the last 60 years. Similarly the building has undergone much work over the years, with the inside radically altered. Any conversion though should be sympathetic to the original, and as much of the original building should be retained. Currently a projection room is housed in the old Ballroom stage and it would be a pity to loose this from a historical point of view.

I have not personally investigated the rest of the property, and it would be informative to see what the rest of the property is like, and what remains from the old studios. 

Down Place is the iconic element of Bray Studios, and once it returns to private dwellings I assume we will loose all access to the property. Many of us rightly feel the property is of cultural significance and in some way we have a right to experience that. Conversion to dwellings would prevent future events like the Hammer At Bray reunions from taking place.  The decision should not be taken lightly. 

The new dwellings that are being proposed, whilst supposedly eco-friendly, are rather dull, contemporary affairs. Much is made of the improvements to the view of Toad Hall (an separate building to Down Place), but the buildings do not fit in with the historical character of the village and surrounding properties any more than the current studio buildings do. These will be expensive properties for the elite few and will clutter the site.

As for the new 'media centre' - this looks as inept as the new dwellings. Fashionable perhaps, but also prompt the question why? The building is much smaller than the existing studio buildings and seems like a needless construction. The existing studio buildings could be adapted - but more than this, the buildings could continue to be used as studios if the Management allowed it. We have already reported how at least one producer expressed an interest in either long-term hire of the site or buying out the studio for a series of productions, only to be met with silence at Bray Management.

One must also question the funding of this. Recent filing activity for Bray Management Ltd. at Companies House suggested that the accounts were empty and the studio can not remain. But the redevelopment of the site also requires medium to long-term investment, and that finance must be found from somewhere.

We maintain that Bray Studios could continue to function as a working studio if the owners were willing to engage. Failing that, something could be made of the history of the space as a film studio, and perhaps turned into a living museum, or full muli-media space.

We would welcome any representation of Bray Management Ltd. to contact us and present their side of proposals. 

In the meantime, we will be encouraging campaign supporters to visit the exhibition to view for themselves and lodge objections and suggestions.

Update: change for housing imminent : BRAY STUDIOS in DANGER

Things are not looking good for Bray at all.

The planning permission was granted last month for the much-needed repairs to the roof of Bray Studios' central building, the listed Down Place.

The Maidenhead Advertiser posted a report on 3rd June which gave a brief overview of the studios history and pointed to further support within the industry to keep the studios operating on some level. See here.

Then last week the same publication reported that an application was imminent to the Council for a change of use to housing - which would have gone before the Council this week. I'm now trying to ascertain what has happened myself. Report is here. But doesn't bode well.

I should point out that I was approached by an independent film production company a matter of weeks ago who expressed an interest in renting out the studios for long term or indeed in buying them out to continue use as a film studio. Bray Management Ltd. advised them that the studios were not currently for hire, and would not consider selling. The whole thing reeks of a done deal - the management company wants to make their money from conversion to housing, and is not interested in preserving the industry which has operated there for 60 years.

Whether anything can be done to halt or delay this process remains to be seen. The sad thing is, we had someone willing to look into buying the studio prevented from doing so. It appears that Bray Studios has been deliberately run into the ground to facilitate this transition. People still want to use the facilities, it still has a use, and should be allowed to continue.

If we can, SAVE BRAY STUDIOS!