From:
charlie bolton
Date:
Apr 23 13:43 UTC
Short link
Hi all
these are the notes I took from yesterdays meeting re Gala Bingo - there were
12-14 people there, split roughly between local traders and local residents.
Apologies were received from the other 3 local councillors.
If anyone attending disagrees with my notes, please say so.
CB reported:
Only very sketchy info exists about the proposal to demolish it and build 40
flats, 3000sq ft of retail space, by Parkridge Homes. A pre-app has been
received by the planning department (this is before any formal planning
pplication) and the planning officer seeks a lot more info before offering
formal advice (which is before an application)
(Note: I have subsequently been emailed by someone at Parkridge saying it could
be between 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft retail space). Mark Bradshaw has also been in
touch with them, urging them to consult locally at an early stage.
Views of meeting:
1. Ideal solution
Get hold of the building locally for a mixed use development. (Ben said he
would contact the people he got in touch with re former ITO building to see if
they might be interested).
2. Preference not to demolish the building, because, while not looking so good
from the outside, it has lots of interesting features inside
3. Recognition that in reality we might not get very far with the ideal
solution, due to assumed large amounts of money required
4. In either scenario, strong preference for any retail use not to be dominated
by one or two large retail stores (or pubs), but for a number of small units.
No desire for large pub chain to set up there.
If a number of smaller units were possible, it may then be appropriate to have
some more retail-oriented, and some more cafe/restuarant oriented.
5. COncerns expressed about the scale of the development in terms of its
possible blocking of view/light/parking implications,but no view taken as to
whether 40 flats is too many (too early to decide)
6. S106 - note that Gala Bingo was primarily a leisure facility for older
people, and that any S106 money should aim to mitigate this
7. Recognition that 12-14 people couldn't be said to be representative of the
views of the Greater Bedminster area as a whole
8. Agreed to meet again when further information was available. In view of 7,
aware of need to get wider views/support for any approach. Suspect there could
be a lot of interest locally. Possibility of setting up a 'Gala group'
Questions to be answered (Charlie to investigate)
1. Is it listed? Could it be listed (or protected in any other way)
2. Is there a covenant in place preventing its reuse as a cinema?
3. How much would it cost?
4. Can George help?
5. Could it be used for something - events or whatever, in time between now and
whatever happens to it?
6. What is the timetable for development?
Charlie Bolton
Green Party Councillor
Southville