Listen to this article:In early May this year, Buckinghamshire Council announced plans to demolish the Gala Bingo building in Aylesbury as part of a £5 million redevelopment plan and towards the end of July, further details of the council’s plan for the space were published. Meanwhile, last month, we informed you that ITV’s The Chase is going online with Gala Bingo, bringing a new digital experience to fans.
The idea is to create a ‘Pavilion Quarter’ in the centre of the town by connecting the High Street to the Exchange. A walkway is to be constructed between the High Street and the popular tourist site and it would have space for a number of small businesses and start-ups that would benefit from being in the area. At present, the space is occupied by the Exchange’s car park.
When the plans were announced in May, there was an immediate backlash from residents who wanted the bingo hall preserved. The building dates back to the 1930s and for many years, it was at the heart of the local community, whether it was being used as a cinema, a live music venue, or a bingo hall.
A petition has been launched calling for the building to be saved and it has gathered over 1,600 signatures. In addition to the desire to preserve an important part of the town’s history, many people have mentioned the lack of affordable music venues in the town.
Buckinghamshire Council says that it recognises why the building is important to people. Still, it claims that it is not financially viable to restore it as it is in such poor condition. However, it chose the name ‘Pavilion Quarter’ as a way of commemorating the former cinema.
The new business area is expected to cost around £5 million and it is part of the broader ‘Regenerating Bucks’ strategy that was adopted by the council last year.
Work is also being done to improve the town centre, such as upgraded lighting and an improved power supply to Market Square. Furthermore, there are plans to create extra housing in a largely disused council building on Walton Street. There will also be a new outdoor area with a dedicated space for music and other events.
There are many more regeneration plans for Buckinghamshire and, specifically, High Wycombe and Chesham. The full plans are available online and they have largely been well received, with only the demolition of the Gala Bingo hall causing contention.
Speaking about the plans, Councillor Rachael Matthews explained that the aim is to rejuvenate the area and that the details are yet to be finalised.
“We are delighted to be able to share early impressions of our vision for the new ‘Pavilion Quarter’ for Aylesbury. This is about breathing new life into this part of the town centre. This is not a final scheme, but outlines the kind of use, look and feel that we want for the new quarter – a space for everyone to enjoy that enhances and adds to the overall town centre experience.
“This is about bringing a redundant space back into use which opens up our town centre and provides new opportunities for businesses. To ensure the town continues to grow, we must adapt to post covid high streets that are more agile and that attract people into a lively town centre experience with a variety of offerings. “We have a planned programme of engagement as we develop these plans and work towards finalising a proposal that works for the town and its communities. We also want to celebrate the history of this part of Aylesbury within the new Pavilion Quarter.
“We want Aylesbury town centre to be a vibrant and bustling location, where people want to live, work and socialise as well as feeling proud to call Aylesbury their hometown.”
While the petition is still attracting signatures, it seems that it may be the end of the road for the town’s Gala Bingo building.
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