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Unique Durham music hub at risk of being demolished

“It’ll all be gone with the demolition”: a look inside Rocking Horse Recording Studio

By Laetitia Eichinger

News Editor

Rocking Horse Rehearsal Rooms and recording studio is facing the prospect of potential permanent closure.

Plans to demolish the building and redevelop the central Durham premises where Rocking Horse is based emerged last month.

Richard Combstock, owner and founder of Rocking Horse, spoke to Palatinate about his bid to save the company, and about the effect that the closure would have on the Durham music scene.

Combstock explained that it would not be possible to finance a relocation of the premises currently occupied by Rocking Horse. “We’ve built, from scratch, super soundproof rooms. It would be impossible to tear our work down and build again somewhere else.

“We wired the place ourselves, plumbed it, built every single wall inside the building. We’ve done a huge amount of work on the building and obviously thrown a huge amount of money at it.

“We’ll just completely

“Losing it would be a real blow to Durham and its students.”

vanish. It’ll all be gone with the demolition.”

Combstock also said that it would be exceedingly difficult to find alternative premises in central Durham City that are affordable for the company, which was founded in 2011 and has occupied the same premises ever since.

Rocking Horse is the only establishment of its kind in Durham, according to Combstock.

He expressed concern that, without Rocking Horse, local bands would have to go as far as Newcastle, Sunderland, or Darlington to be able to access similar facilities.

Combstock also spoke fondly about working with Durham students at Rocking Horse on several occasions.

Zach Fox, formerly music director of Durham University Big Band (DUBB), expressed his remorse about the potential loss of Rocking Horse: “Losing it would be a real blow to Durham and its students.

“Having recorded at Rocking Horse several times during my time at Durham, having a professional studio with such experienced staff be so accessible to students and so close to the city centre is amazing.”

Fox added that the studio provides a professional environment for students that is very different from the environment they might experience within the University music scene.

“I now work in the music industry and the knowledge I gained at Rocking Horse was not only invaluable to me entering the industry, but I use it on a day to day basis in my job.”

Combstock also pointed out that the timing of this development is “particularly bad” because Durham “is going for City of Culture in 2025, and we’re pretty much the last local independent hub of its kind”.

A change.org petition titled ‘Save Rocking Horse Rehearsal Rooms! Durham’s musicians need a place to rehearse’ was set up shortly after news of the potential demolition emerged.

Combstock said: “The petition was the first thing I wanted to do just to get a general wave of support and to gauge how people feel about us staying.”

“Me personally, I believe that we should be cast an important thing for the town, but whether or not the people do is a different matter.”

Combstock said that the petition received over 2000 signatures within 48 hours of being posted.

“We’ve certainly provided important services to local musicians and students alike. We will continue to fight the demolition as much as we can. “

“We will continue to fight the demolition as much as we can.”

County Durham News

Waseem Mohamed

News Editor

County Durham submits 2025 City of Culture bid

County Durham has launched the Durham 2025 campaign, which marks the formal submission of their bid to become the UK City of Culture.

The intiative, which is being backed by Durham University, hopes to see County Durham become the first county to win the title, by using “the power of culture to transform lives.”

As part of the bid, Durham has set out plans for a year-long programme of events.

These include “spectacular opening and closing events, celebration of Durham’s 1,300year history of space science, international celebration of the bicentenary of the railways and a travelling fair that asks big questions about the local economy”. A range of broadcast programming from the county and the biggest Lumiere festival yet have also been planned for 2025.

The events could draw as much as 15 million people, generating £700

Council seeks new powers in devolution negotiations

County Durham Council has welcomed proposals from the Government to grant more devolved powers to local governments, as part of the Conservative Party’s landmark ‘Levelling Up’ policy.

Durham will be one of nine counties to enter negotiations with the Government to secure a devolution deal.

The so called “devolution revolution” will grant local governments extra powers to decide local policies, with the Government promising that “every part of England that wishes to have a ‘London-style’ devolution deal will have one.”

Councillor Amanda Hopgood said, “It is fantastic news that County Durham has been selected as one of the nine areas taken forward for a deal. We have clearly set out a strong and compelling argument

to get to this point and we look forward to further discussion with government. With more local control over economic regeneration, housing, infrastructure and resources, we can look to the future with confidence and optimism.” Durham University has reacted warmly to the plans. ViceChancellor Professor Karen O’Brien said, “Durham University is proud to have worked with partners across the norther East for nearly 200 years to drive investment, innovation, job creation and development, and the adaptation of out economy for the challenges that lie ahead. “We welcome the Government’s focus on Levelling Up and look forward to continuing discussions, locally and nationally, on how we can contribute to this [crucial] agenda.”

Health in County Durham still “worse than average”

An annual report into public health in County Durham has revealed that despite improvements and local policy efforts, overall health in the County remains worse than the average of England, with high levels of health inequalities and deprivation being the main driving factors. The report reveals that County Durham lags behind the rest of England on several health indicators, both in early and adult life, such as in prevalence of long-term illness. It also notes the high levels of deprivation across age groups.

The report analyses the local response to Covid-19, noting “very positive and above average take up of the vaccine in County Durham” at the time of writing. million in revenue, which would create 1,800 jobs in the tourism sector and a further 2,500 jobs in the creative sector. Over 1,000 business can expected to be supported by the City of Culture title.

Reacting to the bid, Durham University Vice Chancellor Karen O’Brien said, “We are proud to be principal partners of the Durham 2025 bid for UK City of Culture. Durham University is integral to the cultural vibrancy of the city and county...and we’re committed to sharing out learning and facilities to the benefit of the whole region.”

Councillor Amanda Hopgood also welcomed the bid: “County Durham has such a huge potential, an we are determined to bring together our extraordinary people, places and ideas to help transform not just the county, but the whole of the north east.”

“We want everyone who lives and workd in County Durham to be a part of our journey and to reap the benefits of a successful bid.”

While vaccinations are having a positive impact on reducing the direct impacts of Covid-19, it acknowledges that “wider health impacts are still unfolding”.

There has been a marked increase in demand for mental health support, particularly amongst children. The risk of social isolation has increased and there have been “both positive and negative” changes to people’s drinking, eating and physical activity habits.

The report sets out further measures to meet the County’s health targets, with this year’s focus being on positive behaviours, alcohol usage and integrated healthcare.