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Former bingo hall set to be music venue (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Former bingo hall set to be music venue
8:34pm Monday 8th February 2010
WORK is under way to give a former bingo hall a new lease of life.
Contractors moved into the former Mecca bingo hall in Regent Circus yesterday to begin removing asbestos from the building.
It is set to re-open as a venue for live music in late summer.
Coun Phil Young, the cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development, said: “This is part of our plans for getting the building ready.
“Clearly this is one of the key actions we had to take to make it safe. It’s great to see it happening.”
Coun Young confirmed that the council had agreed terms with an unconfirmed backer to turn it into a live music venue.
The asbestos removal should be finished by March or April, allowing the refurbishment and design work to begin.
The premises, originally a cinema, closed its doors in April 2008.
Asbestos was once commonly used in buildings because of its fireproofing and other properties.
But it can cause four serious diseases: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening, all of which can be fatal. They usually affect workers who handled the substance before the risks associated with the substance were known.
Coun Young said while the venue was safe to use as a bingo hall, the vibrations created by live music meant that asbestos had to be removed.
A council spokesman added: “Contractors have started work to remove asbestos from the former Mecca bingo hall so that it’s in a fit state to be offered to any new users who might be interested in it.
“Whatever the building is used for in the future, work to alter the interior would involve disturbing the asbestos, so it makes sense to remove it now so that it’s more attractive to the market.”
Coun Young said when finished, the venue would cater to a market which was previously unfilled in Swindon.
While the town’s other live music venues the 12 Bar and the Old Vic can hold 100 people and the Oasis Leisure Centre more than 1,000, the Mecca bingo site would occupy the middle ground.
Coun Young said it would allow Swindon to attract artists before they made it to the top.
He said: “It adds another dimension to the kind of music that Swindon can put on.”
Coun Young said he understood there had been significant interest already from artists.
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Your Say YourSwindon
itsamess, swindon says...
8:59pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Wrong again--but do notice the deliberate mistake in this article--or have you had a few drinks?
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
9:17pm Mon 8 Feb 10
itsamess, swindon says...
9:52pm Mon 8 Feb 10
politicrat, swindon says...
8:36am Tue 9 Feb 10
I am pleased to hear a music venue is coming, but I loath our politicians
Bobfm, South Marston says...
1:34pm Tue 9 Feb 10
To build another limited venue will not attract really top acts unless events continue to be subsidised.
old cronish, swindon says...
2:40pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
2:54pm Tue 9 Feb 10
saymybit, swindon says...
3:13pm Tue 9 Feb 10
well while they are about it, do something about the other derelict properties that could be useful in attracting people to the town - but I still wouldnt trust one party over another.
I Too, Swindon says...
6:28pm Tue 9 Feb 10
itsamess, swindon says...
8:25pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Thats the way it looks to me--they will clear the asbestos--then the mystery backer will pull out--a story we have heard so many times with all our derelict buildings and demolished sites--i mean--what is the big mystery in naming the backer--could it be there is not one?
Mr Blackwell, Swindon says...
11:03am Wed 10 Feb 10
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Either way, it seems a bit dubious.
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I have been desperate to see a mid-sized live event venue in Swindon for decades, so in many ways this is literally a dream come true... so why do I feel it could well turn into a nightmare? I sincerely hope all goes to plan and that the 'unconfirmed backer' is an operator that knows what they're doing.
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The only thing worse for Swindon than not having a mid-sized venue would be for it to have a mid-sized venue that closes within nine months.
Bobfm, South Marston says...
11:07am Wed 10 Feb 10
Mr Blackwell, Swindon says...
11:33am Wed 10 Feb 10
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The whole point of this new venue is, hopefully, to provide an 'Academy' style/level venue for Swindon - so that residents here aren't forced to continually drive to Oxford, Bristol and further afield to see bands of a certain level who now tend to only play either Academy (AMG) or Barfly based tours of the UK.
Bobfm, South Marston says...
12:50pm Wed 10 Feb 10
I have made it clear I would like to see a proper world class concert venue for Swindon. One that would attract thousands to the town. Providing small businesses with real benefit not the 'selective' benefits of the the current SBC/Booking set ups.
Mr Blackwell, Swindon says...
5:34pm Wed 10 Feb 10
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My belief is that the Mecca should be turned into something like the Oxford Academy, where there's a 900 cap. room plus a 300 cap. secondary room. This allows two shows on the same night and means the venue can realistically put on most shows for bands other than the really big sellers.
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Not quite sure what you're expecting, Bob, but the Oasis is the closest Swindon will get to a 'large' venue for a very long time, if not ever.
Bobfm, South Marston says...
7:58pm Wed 10 Feb 10
Mr Blackwell, Swindon says...
8:54pm Wed 10 Feb 10
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When even cities such as Bristol and Oxford are very happy with c.1000 capactity venues, what on earth makes you think Swindon should 'aspire' to larger ones?
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Anything bigger than that really would not be 'commercially viable'.
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We can kiss goodbye to any thoughts of a new venue larger than the Oasis capacity, that's for sure.
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Wurzellly, Swindon says...
8:41pm Mon 8 Feb 10
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I am sure any minute now booby and messy will come along and correct the adver and say that there is no firm peer reviewed evidence that asbestos kills - or maybe not as you can't smoke it?