An impassioned plea has been made to keep a large live music venue in Kingston after a petition clocked up more than 5,000 signatures.

Banquet records manager and Kingston councillor Jon Tolley set up the online petition after plans emerged to redevelop the town centre, leaving the future of the Hippodrome uncertain.

The Hippodrome, in St James Road, serves as a music venue and a nightclub and has been open for over 20 years with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Tinie Tempah performing.

Kingston Council's leader said the council is committed to supporting 'Kingston's diverse and thriving music scene in a variety of ways' and that the owners of the land the Hippodrome sits on have extended its lease.

At a debate at Kingston Council earlier this week, councillor Tolley spoke for five minutes.

At the debate, councillor Tolley said: “It is no secret that my route into local politics was a belief that authorities - and I’m including the council here - neither knew or cared about the thriving music scene in Kingston.

“Our culture wasn’t as important as their culture.”

Cllr Tolley mentioned artists who had performed at the Hippodrome in the past from Ed Sheeran, Bring Me To The Horizon, Tinie Tempah to local bands The Lodgers and Young Romance.

He added: “I mentioned Ed Sheeran and co not because it is about chart toppers but I think it is important to show that the Hippodrome isn’t just about bands you haven’t heard of.

“It is only when we realise what is being missed that we can work out what needs to be replaced."

The manager of Banquet Records stressed that the petition was not about saving the Hippodrome but was rather about facilitating music events.

He clarified: “In a dream world where money was no problem we would have a brand new music venue and arts space but I have been in council long enough to know the priorities and there are financial constraints.

“Instead we need people in this council to recognise such cultural events importance and to make them continue to happen.”

Tolley said it was the council’s obligation to ensure the music scene was protected and he highlighted the cultural and financial benefits of hosting live performances for Kingston Town Centre.

He added: “The council can make a choice. It can choose to facilitate and accommodate as much as possible some of the greatest music events in the borough or it can walk away.

"We need to ensure that such events are not consigned to history."

Kingston Council's leader, councillor Kevin Davis told Surrey Comet: "We have this morning spoken with Salmon, who own the land the Hippodrome sits on. They have advised us that they are in the process of extending the nightclub’s lease, so that the Hippodrome can continue to operate while it considers how to move their entertainment offer.

"The council supports Kingston’s diverse and thriving music scene in a variety of ways from promoting the cultural offer, and working with local stakeholders such as Kingston College and the University at the Tony Visconti Studio. The council recently took part in The Streets, a major Arts Council England-funded consortium music project, and supports Creative Youth, a charity which has secured Heritage Lottery Funding to shine a light on Kingston's music heritage. We're now busily capturing the sounds of the borough with local communities in order to support Kingston’s application to be the London Borough of Culture.

"The council also supports the growth of smaller local music organisations in programming events and festivals across the borough including recent Korean Festival in New Malden and Kingston Carnival as well as those concerts and events delivered in local venues by Kingston Music Service. We also work collaboratively with local venues to take part in initiatives like the Purple Flag accreditation. In addition to this, the council continues to support the Rose Theatre which hosts a wide range of music events.

"We are in talking with the Greater London Authority regarding the development of the night-time economy, and protecting culture at risk - such as venues like the Hippodrome nightclub. The Council also hosted the Mayor of London's Night Tzar visit to Kingston in February, to sample the diverse night time offer."