One of the country’s leading violinists has accused Croydon Council of committing a "crime against the community" by shutting Fairfield Halls for two years for renovation.

The intervention from Nigel Kennedy, who performed his rendition of Vivaldi's Four Seasons at the venue’s concert hall on Friday, comes as campaigners prepare to deliver a petition to Croydon Council protesting against the closure.

In a YouTube video filmed in a dressing room at the concert hall on Friday, the violinist describes Fairfield as "one of the greatest venues in Britain" and suggested he had not heard of plans to close it until arriving to perform that day.

He said: "I have played all types of music in this hall. It has amazing acoustics.

"Whenever we walk in there are people working so hard to help us to do the best gig we can, and they've all got a smile on their face.

"So when I walked in today and heard that it's going to be closed for two years, all three venues at the same time as if there is no planning whatsoever for the future - and that's 70 full-time employees who have been really responsible for these gigs being the best that audiences can get, they're all going to lose their jobs - it's really hard to believe."

In October Croydon Council announced plans for a £30m redevelopment of Fairfield Halls that would see the ageing venue shut completely for two years while work is carried out.

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The plans have sparked outcry from campaigners and Conservative politicians who fear such an extended closure will damage the borough's cultural scene and make it impossible for Fairfield to recapture audiences.

Fairfield’s chief executive Simon Thomsett last year warned the loss of staff would mean the venue “starting from scratch” in 2018.

Despite these protests, last month the council announced it had agreed terms with Fairfield's board to close the venue on July 15.

In his impassioned video message, Mr Kennedy, who has performed at Fairfield with the Royal Philharmonic, said: "The local council surely should be answerable for committing a crime against the community like this".

The violinist urged people to "make your voice heard" and sign a petition calling for a phased closure of the venue, adding: "For young groups coming in here, for people who might otherwise be challenged in life being helped to find [an outlet] in this venue, [it does] amazing positive work - and there's no alternative for other people to go.

"People making this venue available at reasonable rates, it’s one of the greatest venues in Britain and people have got access to it for reasonable rates.

RELATED: 220 staff to lose jobs when Fairfield Halls closes - but Croydon Council's culture spokesman says closure 'helps them'

"If you go somewhere else in London to try and do this, it's going to be completely prohibitive."

Dozens of protesters are expected to attend a Croydon Council meeting tonight in support of the phased-closure petition.

The petition, which has gained more than 8,000 signatures, will be presented to councillors by Andy Hylton, a part-time technician at the venue and the leader of the Save Our Fairfield campaign group.

Speaking last week ahead of the meeting, Mr Hylton admitted tensions may run high tonight in the council chamber.

But he added: "I'm not bothered by the shouting and fist-clenching - I'm more interested in the conversation.

"I know that there are other people that are certainly wanting more of a fight. [But] to be honest, I don't think that's the necessary, that's not the way forward."

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