Forum Topic

Bingo at the Old Birthdays Shop

Noticed a Planning Permission sign in the window of the Empty Birthdays Shop this morning. It's going to become a Bingo place. Objections I think are required by 18 Jan 11.Will try and go on the Ealing Council Website later to find the application.We are going to be like Las Vegas at this rate.

Tony Crumpton ● 5760d20 Comments

Who would have thought there was a demand for another bingo place - unless it's just a cover for a whole load of slot machines

Sara Nathan ● 5760d

I think it is this one that was previously submitted back in 2009.P/2009/2986152 High Street, Acton W3 6QZActon CentralChange of use of ground floor retail shop from shop (Use Class A1) to assembly and leisure (Use Class D2) for use as a Bingo HallDrawing no AB-ACT-152-001 Rev A (Change of use- Existing and Proposed Ground Plan) and Design and Access Statement received on 10/09/09.Full Planning10/09/09

Tony Crumpton ● 5760d

That's all we need! Betting shops and Bingo in Acton High Street.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5760d

Bingo not so bad - sociable and all that - but not doing very well so i would be amazed if that was really what was inteneded. Much more likely to be an arcade (no upside!) masquerading as a bingo hall.i'm not sure how we find out though

Sara Nathan ● 5760d

Checked the notice in the window this morning. No Council Reference Number. Just said it was an applicaton for a gambelling licence for a Bingo Centre and any comments to be made by 09 Jan 11.

Tony Crumpton ● 5759d

I think it is the same but that's odd. Because the last applicaton was in 2009 and looks as if it was granted over residents' objections - and would have lasted for three years.I can't find a reference for the current application.And it's not for what you or I would think of as a bingo hall at all - it's for tables of gambling machines on which you can play networked, remote bingo with no interaction on site. Plus, if they get that, they can have eight (rather than four) high-value machines on which very expensive games can be played.I will ask community association members if they want to me to write an objection letter - but a project number would be ever so helpful. I will post it here if I find it first!Wholly coincidentally have a member of the gambling commission coming to dinner tonight so will consult her!

Sara Nathan ● 5759d

Bizarrely Ealing Council think there are two applications -one to do with an advertising hoarding and another which is invalid and asks to change BACK from bingo hall to retail.Friend from Gambling Commission has offered help if that's not the case - Apparently they are quite worried by the use of automated bingo halls as a cover for just getting higher payioout machines.

Sara Nathan ● 5758d

I wonder if Ealing Council have cocked up. There is another application attached to the street light opposite Birthdays mentioning the Advertising Hording. That one did have a Council reference number on it.

Tony Crumpton ● 5758d

The Ealing switchboard won't actually put you through to planning people - who are supposed to call back but of course have neither done that nor responded to my email enquiry - given that the deadline is not many working days away, that's rather irritating.

Sara Nathan ● 5758d

I heard the leader of York Council talking about the planning process as a 'significant revenue stream' for councils. I assume they only get the revenue should planning go ahead.Could be a reason for a rather slow response?

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 5758d

I heard that interview too - such old-fashioned management speak!5live this morning wasn't it?But in ealing's case, more likely to be ineptitude.

Sara Nathan ● 5758d

Planning left me a message to say they are investigating - i take it all (well the timing bit anyhow) back

Sara Nathan ● 5758d

Seems funny opening up a new bingo place five minutes away from the Gala. Why couldn't it have been a clothes or footwear store or a decent butchers maybe?

David Wright ● 5758d

Acton High street doesn't appear to have many large offices or places of employment nearby, unlike Hammersmith, Ealing or even Chiswick.No tube station either.I imagine, most Actonians leave Acton to go to work and find it more convenient to do their shopping elsewhere.Morrisons is my neighbours nearest supermarket, but they tend to shop at Sainsburys.  Dunno which one.There are many offices and upmarket apartments and a tube station around North Acton, but too far away from our High Street to have any influence.Then again, if Acton High street was near North Acton tube station, Acton might become Hammersmith, rather than the sleepy little village it's become.So, no major employers, no nearby tube station, no upmarket apartments . . .and . . . BINGO ! ! ! (Eyes down for a not very full High Street)

Fred Bray ● 5758d

When I have taken a day off work during the week and have walked up the High Street it always seems to be full of people. I am sure better use could be made of the shop as opposed to turning it into another gambling establisment.It would be an ideal place for a Charity Book shop!

Tony Crumpton ● 5758d

Had a long reply from the gambling commission today - who say it is prefectly legal to apply for an all-automated machine bingo licence - but that you have to actually do it - not just the high roller machines.But from what the Ealing Council people told me, this is either a cock-up or an application to change use BACK to retail from the Bingo idea.Seems very confused to me.

Sara Nathan ● 5755d

Funny on Tuesday I noticed that the application has been removed from the Window. Will have a look again tonight on the way back from Morrison's.

Tony Crumpton ● 5755d

this reply from Ealing Planning (after lots of to-ing and fro-ing):Dear Sara, Thanks your for your email. The application for change of use to the automated Bingo Hall was granted back in 2009. Please see the report attached. The sign is likely to have been in place since 2009. Regards Dean Wooding

Sara Nathan ● 5748d

Goodness me I only just noticed the sign in that shop window...is it all done and dusted now!!! I cannot remember when the card shop went , but surely it wasn't 2009?  did they put in for permission when it was the card shop? what the devil is the shop actually going to be a... small bingo hall... and in which case what future the Gala bingo building?

Linda Gregory ● 5592d

Has anything changed recently?

Sara Nathan ● 5592d