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It seems a bidding war may have erupted between people rushing to save the famous Abbey Road recording studios. This week it emerged that troubled music company EMI was plotting to unload the venue in an attempt reduce growing debts. There are concerns, of course, that the building might be converted into offices or apartments if sold, given that it would be hard to make money out of the complex if it remains as recording studio. But Paul McCartney hinted on Tuesday that a group of people associated with the studios are mounting a bid to save the building and keep it in its current form. Speaking to BBC 2's 'Newsnight', he said: "There are a few people who have been associated with the studio for a long time who were talking about mounting some bid to save it. I sympathise with them. I hope they can do something, it'd be great. I have got so many memories there with the Beatles. It still is a great studio. So it would be lovely if somebody could get a thing together to save it". Abbey Road is best known for its association with the Beatles, of course. As well as recording most of their albums there, they also named their eleventh LP (the last one they recorded, though their penultimate release) after the studio.
National Trust
However, on Wednesday, a spokesman for The National Trust revealed that the organisation is also considering looking into purchasing the studio and retaining its current form, if public interest in them doing so is great enough. In a statement, he said: "It's not often that the public spontaneously suggests that we should acquire a famous building. However, Abbey Road recording studios appear to be very dear to the nation's heart - to the extent that we will take soundings as to whether a campaign is desirable or even feasible". The Trust have invited comments about the proposal they buy the studios via email (abbeyroad@nationaltrust.org.uk), Facebook (www.facebook.com/nationaltrust) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/nationaltrust). EMI are yet to confirm whether rumours of the sale are true or not. Additional reporting by CMU Network
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