Save Earl's Court Exhibition Centre

Earls Court Exhibition Centre survived the bombs of the Blitz and John Prescott turning it into a Casino but is now under threat from Boris Johnson and his developer friends.

They plan to demolish it, as a part of Boris Johnson's Olympic legacy by destroying a working and iconic exhibition hall in London, it was the Venue for the Olympic Volleyball. An easy place for people to visit events when coming into London.

"Earls Court was on its knees in 1939. Cancellation notices were readied as Britain prepared for war in July of that year. After war broke out, Earls Court was soon used for the manufacture and repair of London’s air defence balloon barrage. Giant ‘blimps’ were inflated and tested under the 118ft ceiling. Earls Court did not suffer any damage during the war, but the nearby West Brompton station was destroyed by incendiary bombs." Earls Court was also used to pack parachutes, demob serviceman and most notably The Royal Tournament with the Royal Navy field gun teams, bands and the Royal Horse Artillery not excluding Boat Shows and music concerts.

One of the few events halls that has a pool under the floor, which used to be for the Boat Show.

Help save Earls Court Exhibition Centre and sign the petition.

Thank you

Save Earl's Court! - Home

Earls Court: Kensington and Chelsea's go ahead can't hide the contradictions | Politics | guardian.co.uk

Earls Court and Olympia: Amazon.co.uk: John Glanfield: Books

 

I hear the Olympia complex is to go as well
many of our vets were demobed there!
Another of London's iconic buildings lost forever.
Best
Rob

 

Thanks for the response Rob,

It would a great shame if it was knocked down. It's odd why Boris Johnson wants to knock it down and the English Heritage have refused to list the building after multiple applications, especially when it is the only building designed by Chicago architect Howard C. Crane in London.

The petition to save it is below

Save Earl's Court Exhibition Centres from Demolition & Overdevelopment! | Campaigns by You

 

Sadly, the English don't seem to rate art-deco very highly. Personally, I think that it was the last time that architecture actually enriched a location. Perhaps that's why modern architects are so keen on demolishing it. As Charlie said, they continue to destroy more than the Luftwaffe ever managed.

I've spent many happy ? days on club stands at the Motorcycle Show there. Regrettably, without a UK post code, despite being a British national and a regular London tourist, I'm unable to sign.

 

hallo brithm. i have ben reeding your messages re;saving earl court exhibition.just as a matter of interest.i thought i would mention that it was used to issue demob clothing,to men of all services and rank during the big demob period.after v.e day.hope you and your fellow partitioners succeed.have a good one bernard85

 

Save Earl's Court! - Home <== EARLS COURT PETITON

Campaign launched to save London's Earls Court venue | News | NME.COM

Industry raises alarm on Earls Court plan - FT.com

“…industry figures said the loss of “prime” exhibition space close to the centre of the capital would hamper the government’s efforts to foster economic growth and push customers into the hands of better-equipped European rivals such as Paris, Milan and Frankfurt.”

Lee Newton, chief executive of Media Ten, which runs the Earls Court-based Ideal Home Show, told the Financial Times: “If Earls Court goes, there will be fewer shows bringing less business to London. We need to fight for it to stay where it is or come up with alternatives for west London.”



Stephen Brooks, chairman of Mack Brooks Exhibitions Group, a UK-based company…“We couldn’t have held the Olympics without Earls Court. Yet within months of the games concluding we’re talking about closing down a venue that’s fundamental to London’s economy. Having a shop window is what UK trade shows are all about,”



Nicky Gavron “Given the national importance of Earls Court and the potential windfall the Greater London Authority…could gain through approval, this scheme should be looked at by the secretary of state,”

Nicky Gavron accusses Boris Johnson of doing a secret deal over Earls Court in March 2012 at Mayors Questions. (6.30)

Mayor's Question Time - West Ken and Gibb's Green by Alexio Smithos on SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds

 

Earls Court petition nears 700 signatures | Exhibition News

Petition launched to save Earls Court exhibition centres from the bulldozer - Local News - News - Fulham Chronicle

Sign and share the Petition

Save Earl's Court Exhibition Centres from Demolition & Overdevelopment! | Campaigns by You

many thanks

 

Muhammad Ali vs Brian London Earls Court London 6 August 1966 - YouTube

Save Earl's Court Exhibition Centres from Demolition & Overdevelopment! | Campaigns by You

 

Sorry to hassle you all, but if you have not signed the petition to Save Earls Court Exhibition Centre now here is your chance.

Earls Court hosted the Olympic Volleyball with thousands of visitors each day last year, the only event Boris Johnson did not visit. Boris Johnson now plans to demolish Earls Court with his developer friends. Earls Court and the area make £1 billion each year, demolishing the Exhibiton Hall will affect local businesses, Boris Johnson could stop this tomorrow if he wanted to.

If you could sign the petition by going on the link below and have a look at the News on Save Earls Court website, follow the developments being made on twitter and like Save Earls Court on facebook.

If you could forward it to friends and family and ask them to sign the petition too that would be excellent.

Saving Earls Court could see the reemergence of The Royal Tournament.

Thanks guys

All the best

Brithm

PETITION:
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-earl-s-court-exhibition-centres-from-demolition-and-overdevelopment#

WEBSITE: http://www.saveearlscourt.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/saveearlscourt
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/SaveEarlsCourt

 

Hi Guys,

I thought I would update you all on what is happening with Earls Court Exhibition Centre.

The Kwok Brothers, the Hong Kong investors for Seagrave Road, are still being investigated by Hong Kong Anti Corruption Unit They are charged with a total of eight offences including conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant between June 2000 and January 2009. The ICAC said the offences involved payments and unsecured loans totaling over HK$35 million ($4.9 million)


The residents are still opposing the demolition in both Hammersmith & Fulham & Kensington and Chelsea borough. London Assembly planning spokeswoman Nicky Gavron said: Losing Earls Court would be a huge setback for the London and UK economy. Earls Court brings in £1bn a year, provides a shop window for UK industries and sustains thousands of long-term jobs in the local area


http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2013/01/02/petition-launched-to-save-earls-court-exhibition-centres-from-the-bulldozer-82029-32532854/#ixzz2MOVu3XFB

English Heritage refuse to list the Exhibition Centre on the behest of CapCo, who own Earls Court, built in 1937 and designed by Chicago architect C. Howard Crane it is the only structure of its kind in the British Isles. The only Exhibition Centre in London with easy access to get to. It has two Tube Stations at opposite ends, Earls Court and West Brompton, with a District and Piccadilly Line allowing easy access from the Railways and Airports, with an additional Overground line.

Boris Johnson is now working effectively as an Estate Agent by cutting Police and Fire Stations while his developer friends wait in the aisles with a cheap offer to buy these public buildings for a pittance whilst wasting public money on the Thames Cable Car. He is also helping developers destroy other iconic buildings and homes with Spitalfields Fruit and Wool Market, Ministry of Sound & homes of those at Elephant & Castle.

The homes of those residents living at West Kensington & Gibbs Green Estates are under threat; when there is a huge housing crisis I assume you should not knock down social housing. The residents are standing resolute against the overbearing councillors and developers of CapCo. Residents are being helped by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.This is not about affordable housing but gentrification of the area and evicting people from their homes to make luxury apartments for a profit. This is also detrimental to the North End Road market which will be affected and moved to somewhere else affecting small businesses.

Boris has pushed through this deal with help from Hammersmith MP Greg Hands, deputy Mayor Stephen Greenhalgh, previous councillor of Hammersmith & Fulham (“the lift pincher”) and his good friend Kit Malthouse (all just happen to be Conservative party members).

It is no surprise when Sir Robert McAlpine is given the contract to destroy Earls Court when he’s donated £100,000 to the conservative party, even though a blacklist was consulted when vetting workers for the Olympics to see if they belonged to a trade union or were healthy to work.

http://ww.building.co.uk/news/contractors-blacklist-spending-revealed/5050895.article

Deputy Mayor Stephen Greenhalgh, who had to apologise for inappropriate behaviour towards a female co-worker in a lift, has had a complaint from the Greater London Authority referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and is under possible investigation for his actions relating to West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates. What is worse is that he referred to these peoples' homes as Ghettos.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/12/boris-johnson-deputy-apologises-woman

When Earls Court Exhibition Centre hosted the Olympic Volleyball Boris Johnson refused to visit it due to its being prepared for demolition, but was able to make it to the Beach Volleyball. Earls Court was praised to the heavens for its hosting the Olympic Volleyball and is well known for The Royal Tournament, Boat Show and music concerts of Led Zeppelin, Madonna and more recently Bloc Party. The hope is when Earls Court is saved there will be a possibility of the Royal Tournament returning.

If you want to read about those proposed 'redevelopments' you can read Dave Hill's London blog, which is very good, fair and unbiased, leaving you only with the facts.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog?INTCMP=SRCH

You can still sign the petition or write to your local MP and London Mayor Boris Johnson to stop the destruction of Earls Court Exhibition Centre. He and the councillors of the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Boris Johnson have the power to stop this demolition! As it is TfL’s land, effectively taxpayers land.

Apologies for the long post, hope you all have a great weekend.

"Together we can save Earls Court!"

PETITION:
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-earl-s-court-exhibition-centres-from-demolition-and-overdevelopment#

WEBSITE: http://www.saveearlscourt.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/saveearlscourt
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/SaveEarlsCourt
WEBSITE: http://westkengibbsgreen.wordpress.com/about/

 

An update on recent developments [Council ‘whitewash over illegal deals’ in £8bn Earl’s Court scheme] on the West Ken & Gibbs Green Estate in the Standard:
A flagship Tory council is facing angry protests over the £8 billion redevelopment of Earl’s Court after deciding not to further investigate claims of wrongdoing.

Hammersmith and Fulham said no evidence had been found that councillors and housing officers illegally offered priority housing in return for residents’ support for the scheme.

However, we believe that this does not absolve the blame from Hammersmith & Fulham council.

More on the treatment of local residents at Dave Hill's London Blog

A flagship Tory council has decided there's no need to look deeper into claims of wrong doing made against it. But does the report it commissioned into the matter suggest otherwise?

 

Earls Court Exhibition Centre is hosting the Ideal Home Show, there is still time to sign the petition and write to your local MP to demand a stop the demolition of Earls Court and write to English Heritage for it to be a listed building.

Dave Hill's fantastic Blog following what's going on has the latest below

Earls Court: relocation, complication and delay | Politics | guardian.co.uk

there are 1,976 names, if you could sign or forward the pettion to colleagues, friends and family, that would be greatly appreciated.

"Together we can save Earls Court!"

PETITION:
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-earl-s-court-exhibition-centres-from-demolition-and-overdevelopment#

WEBSITE: http://www.saveearlscourt.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/saveearlscourt
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/SaveEarlsCourt
WEBSITE: http://westkengibbsgreen.wordpress.com/about/

 

Earls Court Exhibtion Centre is being saved by local residents and businesses.

Follow on twitter and facebook, sign the petition, have a look at the website, write to your local MP, Eric Pickles and Boris Johnson, and tell them to save Earls Court Exhibtion Centre.

PETITION:
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-earl-s-court-exhibition-centres-from-demolition-and-overdevelopment#

WEBSITE: http://www.saveearlscourt.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/saveearlscourt
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/SaveEarlsCourt

 

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know there is still time to help save Earls Court Exhibition Centre, the home of the Royal Tournament. If you can please sign the petition and share it with friends, family and colleagues it would be a great help.

The South African developers CapCo are determined to knock down the exhibition centre, which TFL are selling the land under its true value. Boris Johnson is backing this for some reason as well as local councillors, Eric Pickles and Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

Thanks to local Earls Court ward councillor Linda Wade, whom has been helping local residents fight against this needless destruction.

Earls Court Exhibition Centre generates £1 billion to the area where local businesses rely on it staying open as well as those who work there whose jobs will be lost due to the demolishment.

So if you could take the time and let other people know about it, everyone would be very grateful

Brithm

PETITION:
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-earl-s-court-exhibition-centres-from-demolition-and-overdevelopment#

WEBSITE: http://www.saveearlscourt.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/saveearlscourt
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/SaveEarlsCourt
WEBSITE: http://westkengibbsgreen.wordpress.com/about/

 

brithm,

It's probably a dumb question, but do you have to be from the UK to sign the petition?

Regards ...

 

No, but you need a UK postcode.

Signed.

All the best

Andreas

 

Thanks Andreas

 

Hi Guys,

Just seeing if you could help Save Earl's Court Exhibition Centre by signing the below petition. It will go to the leader of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Councillor Paget-Brown. Hopefully this great exhibition centre can be saved, as it generates £2 billion for the area.

Designed by Detroit architect C. Howard Crane and opened on 1st September 1937, he stayed in Britain during World War II helping with the war effort. If this is knocked down there will be no other building in Britain designed by Crane and it will be a loss to London & Britain.

CapCo the developers want to make an ugly ghetto apartment complex for wealthy foreign investors, so if you have the time please sign the petition. If you could share the petition with friends and family it would be appreciated.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-earl-s-court

WEBSITE: http://www.saveearlscourt.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/saveearlscourt
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/SaveEarlsCourt
WEBSITE: http://westkengibbsgreen.wordpress.com/about/

 

Can't believe I somehow missed this thread. Signed, circulated and put up on Facebook. I hope it isn't too late.

 

Thanks very much for your help CTNana