-----Original Message-----
From: Bottleneck Blues [mailto:john_at_bottleneckblues_dot_com]
Sent: 05 November 2006 09:03
Subject: Our venue under threat ~ again!
Importance: High

As you may be aware the planning application behind Zaffa in Maidstone was withdrawn when the property developer realised the project would be rejected by the council......This saved our venue from the dangers of closure but sadly this threat has been resurrected.

The land immediately behind our venue now has another application pending.....for 14 X 2 bedroom flats. Nobody has any objection to this provided the existing use of Zaffa is protected......but that's not the case. Notwithstanding that we have run our famous blues nights there for 10 years & the fact that Ciaran (the owner) has also run folk, country & salsa events there for many years it would take just ONE complaint from a new resident to close the whole thing down. This is ridiculously unfair but it is the reality.

Please be polite.....it's not Steve Clarke's fault & we want the council on our side but the more support we can muster for Zaffa/Mu Mu the greater the chance this application will be withdrawn.

There are precious few places in Maidstone (or Rochester/Chatham come to that) where "grown-ups" can go out for an evening of World Class entertainment. Every town in the country is being taken over by "drinking factories" & we wonder why we have a "youth" problem.....that's not the case with The Bottleneck Blues Club......we offer a wonderful environment for a family night out.....don't let them take that away from us..............THANKS.