Whitby bookmaker looking to bring New Quay Road building back as bingo hall
A bookmaker is betting its future in plans to turn its former Whitby shop into a bingo hall.
William Hill PLC has applied to Scarborough Council for a change of use for the building in New Quay Road.
The shop was one of the hundreds closed by the company in 2019 as it blamed a fall in gaming machine revenues for the need to cut costs.
The company is now looking to bring the building back into use.
Its application to the borough council states that the premises will be open from 9am until 11pm seven days a week.
It adds: “The clear primary use of the premises would be a bingo hall, however, there are a small number of electronic bingo machines and an even smaller number of slot machines.
“The overall use would be as a bingo hall.”
No external changes are proposed for the building although the applicant adds that a separate application for new signs will be submitted at a later date.
One objection to the plans has already been submitted by a local resident who says gambling “prays on vulnerable people” and adds it should be located on Pier Road but “even then I’d probably object”.
The plan is out to consultation.