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Upset as closure of bingo hall is announced (From Basildon Recorder)
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Upset as closure of bingo hall is announced
12:14pm Wednesday 1st July 2009
A BINGO hall in Pitsea will close later this month.
The popular venue in the Broadway is one of five to go across the country.
Regular customers, many of whom have played there for decades, spoke of their deep sadness and complained there will be nothing for pensioners to do in Pitsea.
This is the latest blow for the town centre. The Railway Hotel, opposite, and a Blockbuster video store a few doors down have already closed.
It is understood the bingo hall will shut on July 28.
Regular player Dave Andrews, 69, of Pitseaville Grove, Vange, said: “This is a very sad day. The bingo hall must have been here for 40 years.
“It’s always been really good coming down here and meeting lots of nice people. It will be sad for a lot of pensioners in particular.
“The staff have always been ever so nice and helpful, and it’s a real centre of the community. I’ve got a lot of good memories and will be sorry to see it go.”
The nearest alternative bingo hall will be in Southernhay, in Basildon town centre.
Bingo clubs have been under pressure in recent years from the introduction of the smoking ban, restrictions on money-spinning gaming machines, a hike in bingo duty, and the economic downturn.
The owner of the Pitsea club, Gala Coral, is also planning to close clubs in Hull, Birmingham, Glasgow and Fife.
It is not known at present if staff at the Pitsea site will be employed at other Gala venues.
Group chairman Neil Goulden, said: “The changes announced will ensure the group is as efficient as it can be in these unprecedented times, and that the group is well positioned for future growth and development.”
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Your Say Your Basildon
Curbishly, Castle Point says...
9:56am Thu 2 Jul 09
"The British bingo industry and its supporters took to the streets outside Parliament yesterday to urge the government to revoke its decision, taken in April’s budget, to impose a 22 percent rate of gross profits tax (GPT).
Industry leaders were hoping the demonstration would reinforce the message given to Treasury minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry in a meeting on Tuesday that the 22 percent tax rate would mean further club closures and job losses".
http://tinyurl.com/m
ehv9h
So lets lay the blame fairly and squarely onto the shoulders of those responsible.
The Labour Party.
SARFENDMAN, Rayleigh says...
10:22am Thu 2 Jul 09
Trainman wrote:Agree 100% that a cinema would be nice. So few of those old "Picure Palaces" buildings remain. At least BINGO kept the place going.
They can always try Re-opening it as the Cinema that it was?
VANGE LES, BASILDON says...
2:42pm Thu 2 Jul 09
Curbishly wrote:Something else thats being blamed on the Labour Party.
Since this Labour Government has hiked the bingo tax halls such as this have been closing all over the country. "The British bingo industry and its supporters took to the streets outside Parliament yesterday to urge the government to revoke its decision, taken in April’s budget, to impose a 22 percent rate of gross profits tax (GPT). Industry leaders were hoping the demonstration would reinforce the message given to Treasury minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry in a meeting on Tuesday that the 22 percent tax rate would mean further club closures and job losses". http://tinyurl.com/m ehv9h So lets lay the blame fairly and squarely onto the shoulders of those responsible. The Labour Party.
Lets wait until the Tories get back in and see what a mess they make of things - like last time.
Pitsea's bingo hall
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Trainman, Kings Lynn, ENGLAND says...
1:12am Thu 2 Jul 09