Observations

Declares that the Acoustic Couch is a community-run grassroots music venue that contributes richly to the culture and economy of Bracknell; further declares that the current venue which houses the Acoustic Couch is under a carpark that is no longer structurally sound, and will therefore be closed from the end of 2025; notes that Bracknell Forest Council has been working with the Acoustic Couch to identify possible alternative venues, but an affordable and accessible location has yet to be identified; and further declares that grassroots music venues across the country have faced substantial difficulties in recent years, and recognises the need to protect their invaluable contribution to our shared music heritage

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider what support can be made available to secure the future of the Acoustic Couch in Bracknell.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Peter Swallow, Official Report, 29 April 2025; Vol. 766, c. 300.]

[P003065]

Thank you for raising this important issue regarding the future of Acoustic Couch in Bracknell. Grassroots music venues like Acoustic Couch play a vital role in nurturing local talent, supporting communities, contributing to the cultural and economic life of towns across the UK and giving people a great night out.

We fully recognise the challenges that grassroots venues of this kind are currently facing. These issues are real and pressing, and we are actively working with the music sector to strengthen the resilience and long-term sustainability of the UK’s grassroots music infrastructure.

The Government’s industrial strategy is prioritising the creative industries, and we published our creative industries sector plan on Monday 23 June 2025. This includes a new £30 million music growth package, which will be delivered in partnership with Arts Council England and industry. This investment will support the entire music ecosystem—from grassroots venues, festivals, and rehearsal and recording studios, to high-potential artists, songwriters, independent labels, managers, and promoters.

For grassroots venues, the package will provide vital investment to improve facilities, support programming and live performance, and help create more opportunities for emerging artists to develop and perform across the UK. It will also fund industry-led initiatives to improve access to mentoring, touring, and export opportunities, ensuring that more UK artists can build sustainable careers, both at home and internationally.

We are also encouraging widespread adoption of a new industry-led ticket levy on large-scale arena and stadium events. Once fully implemented, this initiative, administered by the LIVE Trust, is expected to generate up to £20 million annually for investment into the grassroots sector, benefiting venues, artists, promoters and festivals across the UK. This will help address the financial pressures facing smaller venues and enable more artists to tour nationally.

Alongside this, we continue to work closely with key stakeholders, including the Music Venue Trust, UK Music, and local authorities, to identify emerging challenges and ensure support reaches those who need it most.

Declares that Oswestry Crown Post Office has been earmarked for potential closure, removing vital mail, money, travel, identity and driving services from the town centre; further declares Oswestry Crown Post Office’s role as an essential community service at the heart of Oswestry; notes that high streets in towns are already facing huge challenges, including business rate hikes and loss of bank branches; further that North Shropshire is one of the worst served constituencies in the England for public transport, and this poses a significant challenge to accessing vital services that crown post offices provide; and further notes that 2,668 people have signed an online petition on this matter.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to guarantee the future of Oswestry Crown post office.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Helen Morgan, Official Report, 21 May 2025; Vol. 767, c. 1137.]

[P003072]