17 November 2025
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Emily DaltonLocal Democracy Reporting Service
A strategy to turn a previous branch of NatWest bank in Surrey into a 24-hour bingo hall has actually been tossed out.
The decision by Spelthorne Borough Council last week followed a debate amongst councillors and opposition from locals who described the concept as "the last straw" for Staines town centre.
The proposal was to convert the uninhabited noted building's ground floor into a 61-seat adult-only bingo hall running around the clock - a move which designers Sunni Ed Ltd claimed would bring "vitality and viability" back to the area.
But some dissenters questioned whether the website would instead be utilized as "an out-and-out betting hall".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planning files showed that, had actually the job been greenlit, the designers had actually planned to get a gambling licence before opening.
As part of the licensing procedure, a danger assessment would have then been performed.
Councillor Denise Saliagopoulos called the plan "outrageous", stating: "We're decreasing a domino effect.
"Why would anyone wish to play bingo 24 hours a day?" asked Councillor Chris Bateson.
"I can't imagine a couple saying at 10pm, 'Let's go and play bingo'."
Ward councillor Howard Williams said the proposal went against local policy designed to safeguard shopping areas in Staines town centre, while several others added that the adult-only place would do little to support an inclusive, family-friendly space.
Its impact on problems like the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) currently in place on the High Street was also mentioned.
However, some did yield that bringing the structure back into usage might help produce footfall, while previous remarks on the application recommended perhaps repurposing it for community advantage.
Other ideas consisted of turning it into a post office, a cultural centre, a health and wellness hub or independent shops.
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