News / Development
Plans for bingo hall face rejection despite overwhelming support
Plans to build a huge bingo hall on a brownfield site have been recommended for refusal by council officials despite attracting hundreds of supporting comments.
Club 3000 Bingo wants to build the “state-of-the-art” venue on a brownfield site on Hartcliffe Way after it was forced to close its long-running club in Broadwalk Shopping Centre to make way for the site’s redevelopment.
The application has so far attracted overwhelming public support, with almost 500 letters backing the proposal on Bristol City Council’s planning portal compared with dozens of objections.
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Supporters say south Bristol lacks entertainment venues, the development would create jobs and the bingo hall would provide an important social space for older residents.
However, planning officers have raised concerns that the site could be needed for future housing as part of the council’s Local Plan and say leisure developments of this scale should be located closer to the city centre rather than on Bristol’s outskirts.
Club 3000 Bingo said it had more than 8,000 local members before closing its doors at Broadwalk – image: Club 3000 Bingo
Permission is being sought for a 2,000-capacity bingo hall with 358 parking spaces on a former van base.
Objectors say the bingo hall would promote gambling, increase traffic and parking pressures, and be “out of character” with the area.
Some also argue the site would be better used for housing and have raised concerns about crime and the impact on nearby residents.
“Would be off off with a community centre,” one critic commented, while another wrote: “I feel this shouldn’t go ahead due to the size of the land I think it would be more suited for much needed homes’
However, someone said they support the application “because that is my social club that I visit regularly with my family and friends. I am now suffering from low mood and depression as I just have to stay in the house with nowhere to go and feel safe, meet my friends and have a laugh.”
The 10m-high building would be built on an empty brownfield site – photo: Conversation PR
Urging councillors to approve the scheme, Filwood councillors Rob Logan and Lisa Durston said: “Bingo has a long and proud history in south Bristol.
“Residents have been looking forward to their local club transferring to the new site from the old Broadwalk location.
“This exciting planning application should be approved without delay.”
Club 3000 Bingo founder Brian Fraser added: “Since we were forced to close our club at Broadwalk Shopping Centre, we’ve done all we can to look after our members.
“The club is a really important social outlet for our members, and – for some – the only time they really get to see their friends.
“We have worked really hard to try to find a new site, get planning permission and build our new club.
“So, it’s really frustrating that council officers feel they cannot support the application.
“It’s all now in the hands of the planning committee members – they can overrule council officers, and we certainly hope they do, so we can get on and build our new club, open our doors and welcome our members back.”
The application is set to be decided by councillors on the development control committee at a meeting on July 22.
Main photo: Club 3000 Bingo
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