Torquay bingo fans oppose plan to close car park early
MEMBERS of a Torquay club have reacted angrily to the news that a prime town centre multi-storey car park is to close after 7pm.
Torbay Council has confirmed that the 650 space Temperance Street car park is being closed as a money saver.
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FULL HOUSE: Gary Lynn (right) from Gala Bingo hall with some of his members who are petitioning against the early closure of the Union Lane multi-storey car park TQAS20130111C-001_C
Gary Lynn, manager of Gala Bingo underneath the concrete car park, said: "This would have a serious impact on our business. We can't use the Lower Union Lane spaces because they are packed out. They said that at 7.30pm there were a maximum of 35 cars. For the last few days the minimum we have counted is 75.
"We could have anywhere between 200 and 600 people attending an evening session and there could be 300 to 400 cars in there. We provide a social and leisure activity which is a huge part of the community. This action will affect not only our business but our customers. Many customers and residents of Torbay have also purchased annual passes for the car park.
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"We have over 400 signatures and addresses strongly protesting these changes." A Torbay Council spokesperson said the latest figures show an average of 30 vehicles a night using it, sometimes as low as seven. They can no longer justify the cost of keeping the building open until 10pm when there is free on street free parking after 6pm.
"We are aware of the concerns but unfortunately the numbers represented on their petition do not appear to reflect the usage in the car park after 7pm. We have agreed to put the early closure on hold while we look into the possibility of installing gates to keep the bottom two levels open until 10pm. This, however, would be dependent on the financial support from Gala Bingo." Permit holders could get a pro rata refund.
5 Comments
by Mooresy84
Monday, January 28 2013, 1:09PM
“from my experience of managing buildings along Temeprance Street and Lower Union Lane, most of those who park have blue badges and park for free on the street, blocking fire exits and dropped kurbs to buildings, illegally. And then they get annoyed and give a mouthful when you have to interrupt their game so they to move their cars from blocking others in.
The worst time for this was always evenings so perhaps they should have been encouraged to use the car parks in the first place they wouldn't need to close it.”
by Mooresy84
Monday, January 28 2013, 1:08PM
“from my experience of managing buildings along Temeprance Street and Lower Union Lane, most of those who park have blue badges and park for free on the street, blocking fire exits and dropped kurbs to buildings, illegally. And then they get annoyed and give a mouthful when you have to interrupt their game so they to move their cars from blocking others in.
The worst time for this was always evenings so perhaps they should have been encouraged to use the car parks in the first place they wouldn't need to close it.”
by SidneyNuff
Sunday, January 27 2013, 1:45PM
“Bingo men in the picture, how sad.”
by SidneyNuff
Saturday, January 26 2013, 1:00PM
“Will all those parked on level 22 two little ducks please remove their cars.”
by nicold
Saturday, January 26 2013, 10:40AM
“Haven't they heard of buses?”