Fun centre for former bingo hall
A former Mecca bingo hall in Wolverhampton is set to be transformed into a giant adventure playground in a £6.5 million plan which would create around 100 new jobs. A former Mecca bingo hall in Wolverhampton is set to be transformed into a giant adventure playground in a £6.5 million plan which would create around 100 new jobs. The eyesore building, which stands alongside the Wednesfield Way by-pass near Bentley Bridge, is to be converted into a thrill-packed fun centre for children and adults. As part of the plan, the site, which has stood empty for seven years and has been plagued by vandals and travellers, will be extended to accommodate shops, a cafe and restaurants. Leisure attractions will include a go-kart track, climbing walls, trampolines, a football and sports arena, an entertainment area for parties and an aerial assault course. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
The eyesore building, which stands alongside the Wednesfield Way by-pass near Bentley Bridge, is to be converted into a thrill-packed fun centre for children and adults.
As part of the plan, the site, which has stood empty for seven years and has been plagued by vandals and travellers, will be extended to accommodate shops, a cafe and restaurants.
Leisure attractions will include a go-kart track, climbing walls, trampolines, a football and sports arena, an entertainment area for parties and an aerial assault course.
Costa Coffee, Carphone Warehouse and Wilson's Pets want to take up retail units.
The bid by a London-based company was given delegated approval, subject to conditions, by the city council's planning committee yesterday.
The scheme, which also includes 236 parking spaces and landscaping, has been welcomed by Wednesfield councillor and former mayor Phil Bateman.
He said the site was a "mess" and had been the target for vandals and travellers, and was a blot on the neighbouring Bentley Bridge retail park.
"It is in a state of disrepair and needs to be brought back into productive use as soon as possible," he added.
Councillor Bateman said action was also desperately needed to protect the nearby former Healthland swimming and fitness centre from vandalism.
He was backed by committee chairman Councillor Paula Brookfield, who said the investment would bring about a big improvement in the building and surrounding land.
It would also create a major new leisure outlet, complementing the nearby Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre on the opposite side of the road.
The outlet, which could be up and running by the end of this year, will be operated by Essex-based Kidscape Adventures, which runs two similar venues in the south east.