A popular snooker club in Essex, England is possibly about to be demolished. The club sits on the top level of an indoor market called Rayleigh Lanes. The owners of Rayleigh Lanes Indoor Market want to turn the unit into twelve, two bedroom flats. Mark Francois, the Rayleigh Tory MP, has spoke to councilors and asked them to reject the plan to destroy the snooker club, Rayleigh Lanes.

n August 28th, the development control committee of the Rochford District Council will be meeting to recommend the approval of the plans. Francois has told the committee that although he knows the council must make a decision on any planning application, in this case he recommends they go against the ways of their officers.

Francois stated that losing the club would mean: “the loss of an amenity which is enjoyed by a lot of people in the town and importantly it is also something for youngsters. I am also concerned about the parking and traffic situation if this proposal is agreed.”

Shaun Scrutton is the head of planning at the Rochford District Council and presented a report to the committee. Scrutton found that there was a petition to keep the snooker club in place with 225 signatures. Although he recognizes the loss of the snooker club, Scrutton has said that there are other facilities nearby that the club patrons can visit.

Scrutton has said although there are concerns about parking, car parks close by can be used and is not a justifiable reason to not create the flats. He also stated: “The modern style of the proposal avoids the pastiche of trying to reproduce the style of the adjacent listed buildings which would be unsuitable at this scale and also out of context. Overall, it is considered the proposal would add to the appearance of this part of the conservation area.”

Local comments on the subject of the Snooker club indicate that the signatures on the petition are climbing each day, with currently hundreds more added to the list. This may create a different outcome for the local Snooker club.




- 2008-08-21