Dance Academy boss still holds a valid club licence despite four years in jail

“So sad, unfortunately it will cost far more money to restore than anyone individual or even company would be prepared to invest , there would be little return on such an investment in this age of television and facebook. It is cheaper to build new than to restore such an old and complicated building to its former glory. It will take lottery funding to bring this building back from the brink .”

“I'm not stopping anyone from having their pipe dreams, but that's all they are...try to keep your feet on the ground, fellas. It'll only be a matter of time before the building becomes unsafe and we know where that will go.”

“I agree with Brian137 I have spent many hours in the old Palace as a child and took my kids to pantomimes there as well If only someone would show some initiative and restore to the building it once was it would be an attraction once more. The Theatre Royal is a good place but it doesn't have a fraction of the character of the Palace as it was and could be again.”

“blogtodi
You just haven't got a clue have you
I'm sure the historians of future generations would say the same thing in years to come if people like yourself have your way. I don't care if it cost millions to put right, I say put it right whatever the cost.
Because of past bad decisions, we are now having to reap the bad fruit and pay the piper if we want to hold on to our fast disappearing history.”

“The Palace is like an old dying dog waiting to be put down. The sooner the better. Without it, the development of Union Street can continue.
I'm not against the building or its beautiful architecture but it's too late, the building has gone past its live-by date. Nobody can put enough money into this building that will do it justice.

I saw some good shows in that theatre, worked in there briefly in the 80 when it became a club and each time I thought, 'this building is being kept alive artificially, it's on a ventilator.' It's been desecrated by the change of use. It no longer has a soul.

It should be allowed to die with dignity. Like any other archaeological artefact we should record it, note its history and benefit to the people if its time and then destroy it, for it's own sake.”

“License or no license it will take millions of pounds to bring the building up to Health and Safety requirements and standards , so it is all quite academic . Personally I fear walking beneath the structure in case bits fall off and I do not think I am alone in this . It is a scandal that this building is allowed to fall into such disrepair so little of Plymouths history remains .”

“devonlocal

Your quote:
My point is not about this man and whether he is guilty or not. My point is that the Herald appears to overstep the mark

I agree with the position that says that Mr Bahmanzadeh is currently in Legal limbo, but still known 'legally' as a man that knowingly allowed a drug culture to exist in his premises and in fact encouraged it.
People on this thread are discussing two different subjects, the man himself & the degradation of an historical gem. I know what I'm more interested in.
Most of our history got destroyed by either Hitler during the last war or through a man called Abercrombie just after it. Our city centre is disgusting, square concrete buildings and straight avenues, one end of town busy as a bee and the other end dying.
Well, frankly it depresses me knowing the people in charge of our fair city are cheapening it by putting up square cr@ppy looking buildings to replace these gems. To give an example, A house Joshua Reynolds lived in was knocked down to make way for the Levinsky building, which they now tell us is not room enough for the purpose it was built??

I actually got excited a little while ago about a potential building project, the rebuilding of the old pier off West Hoe, but I suppose because it was brought forward by Viv Pengelly, Tudor Evans will blackball it. Typical party politics, which don't affect the council, but do affect the people. The pier could bring life and prosperity back to the Hoe, but it almost certainly now it wont happen.
As a man who was born and have lived in Plymouth for most of my life I continue to be disappointed by all these things and all the jewels that are locked away from public viewing, anybody remember the King Billy statue that use to reside on that building at the top of Royal parade? They've hidden that one away as well, which is a shame because it was a real tourist attraction and an historical artifact. Another bad decision by our council.
I don't want to get too depressed, so I'll stop now...”

“Brian137 totally agree with you, it is such a wounderful looking building underneath all the decay. It could if restored, be a jewel in Plymouth's crown.”

“Sorry Newman you are incorrect on this one.

Guidance is issued to the CPS in these matters. If an appeal is pending where the outcome is known then the advice is to release on bail. The purpose of the guidance is to limit any subsequent claim for damages by the individual for wrongful imprisonment. This also allows the appeal to be programmed for a later date and not rushed through at a higher expense to the taxpayer.
If there is any doubt about the outcome the accused would not be released once he has been imprisoned for fear of abscondment.
Our legal system might sometimes be an ass but not on these circumstances.”

“jaygeek1, you can call it 'beaurocracy' if you want, but to others it's called 'due process', and it's part of a system of checks and balances which have protected people's right to justice for centuries.

It may not be perfect, but which country's legal system is? Unless we develop telepathy, verdicts will always have to be given by fallible human beings on the balance of incomplete evidence, based on imperfect knowledge and understanding.”