Club 3000 Bingo’s plans to return to South Bristol have suffered a major setback after Bristol City Council planning officers recommended councillors reject proposals for a new purpose-built venue.
According to local reports, the application, which would see the operator relocate to a former commercial site on Hartcliffe Way in Bedminster, will now go before the planning committee on 22 July, where councillors will make the final decision.
The recommendation comes despite more than 450 letters of support, backing from local councillors and repeated claims that the new venue would restore an important social hub lost following the closure of the Broadwalk Shopping Centre club.
The decision is the latest chapter in a story that Bingo Daily has followed closely, from the closure of the Broadwalk venue through to Club 3000’s search for a replacement site and the unveiling of plans for a modern new bingo hall.
Planning officers recommend refusal despite benefits
Planning officers argue that the proposed site should instead be reserved for future housing under Bristol’s emerging Local Plan.
They also contend that a major leisure development such as a bingo club should be located closer to Bristol city centre rather than on the outskirts.
In their report, officers said:
“The application raises significant impact in terms of its failure to adequately address key land use planning issues, such as the sequential approach to town centre uses, and the fact that the scheme would result in the loss of a future housing allocation which would undermine the city potentially hitting housing supply targets under the new Local Plan.
“The scheme also raises significant highway safety issues and, as advised by Public Health, potential consequences for social and health inequalities in a particularly deprived part of Bristol.”
The report acknowledged there were clear economic and social benefits, including investment, job creation and the return of an important community facility, but concluded these were outweighed by planning concerns.
It continued:
“The provision of a place for social interaction… and the relocation of a popular business is given significant weight in the consideration. The development of an underutilised brownfield site and the provision of jobs are also a benefit.
“The additional wages that would be generated (approximately £1.8 million) and the 108 jobs that would be supported during construction are also positives.
“Ultimately the level of weight to be attributed to the issues identified is for members to determine, but officers are recommending the application for refusal.”
Brian Fraser: “It’s really frustrating”
Brian Fraser, founder of club 3000, the UK’s largest independent retail bingo operator, says the company has worked tirelessly to find a replacement after losing its Broadwalk home.
He said:
“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.”
Community support remains strong
The former Broadwalk club had around 8,000 registered members, with Club 3000 previously revealing that approximately 70% of daytime players were aged over 65, many of whom lived alone.
Hundreds of supporters have written to the council describing bingo as an essential part of their social lives.
One supporter told planners:
“Being a pensioner, I used to go to Club 3000 Bingo in Broadwalk, but since its closure I can’t get to any other bingo.
“I am really missing my friends, as this was the only time I could get out to see them. It is a really friendly club; all the staff always made you feel part of the family. Please, please give permission for them to build a new venue.”
Local councillor Rob Logan has also publicly backed the proposal, saying:
“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.”
Decision due next week
The application will be considered by Bristol City Council’s planning committee on 22 July.
If permission is refused, thousands of former Broadwalk members could face an even longer wait before having a local bingo club to call home once again.
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