The future of bingo in the Lincolnshire town of Scunthorpe is very much on the line as local councillors have delayed a decision on a proposal to convert Buzz Bingo Scunthorpe into storage units until a site visit.
London-based Zirconia Trading Ltd has applied to turn it into self-storage having had a previous application to turn it into self-storage refused in 2023 on the grounds of the bingo hall being a community facility.
According to the local press, Boyer Planning director Nick Diment, speaking on behalf of the applicant, emphasised officers’ recommendation for approval. “It remains the applicant’s position that a bingo hall doesn’t represent a community facility.” He also pointed out a legal opinion had been submitted as part of the application, “confirming bingo halls are not community uses”.
He also said of self-storage: “They support local business that could not operate without such facilities.”
“It is a community facility,” said objector Cheryl Stocks. 37,000 people were registered as Buzz Bingo members in North Lincolnshire, she said. “This goes a long way to prevent social isolation. It helps hundreds of people with their mental health,” she said.
“I googled self-storage providers in North Lincolnshire and came up with over 20 providers. I then googled bingo halls and came up with just one.”
Strange Place for a Bingo Hall
Cllr Carol Ross (Broughton and Scawby Ward) commented on its location: “I’ve always thought that’s a strange place for a bingo hall, right on a roundabout.” Cllr Max Bell (Ashby Lakeside) was opposed to the change and said there was “no evidence” to support application claims of an increase to employment. With opinions split, a site visit was proposed and agreed.
More than 100 objections to the change of use have been lodged to the Council. One of the objectors is Buzz Bingo who despite massively shrinking its land based operations in the UK, are believed to be opposed to the closure and conversion of the popular bingo hall.
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