Bowling alley on cards at former casino venue
A former casino in Bath could become a bowling alley and leisure venue if plans for its change of use are approved.
Century Casino on Saw Close closed in March 2020 amid the first coronavirus lockdown and the company that owned it went into voluntary liquidation shortly afterwards. Since then, the venue has lain vacant.
Now, it could get a lease of life as a bowling alley and leisure venue.
Lane 7, a company which owns a popular alley by the same name in Bristol, has applied to Bath and North East Somerset Council for permission to reinvent the venue.
The casino was created as part of a 2018 scheme in the old three-storey Market pub. Some bits of the Grade II listed building date from the 17th century, when it started life as a house. By the 1800s, it had been turned into a pub and then incorporated with the adjoining theatre, to become a thespians bar.
Lane 7 runs several bowling alleys around the UK and said opening one in Bath would bring a vacant building back into use.
However, an architect based on Westgate Street has objected to the proposal. Dr James Armitage raised concerns about noise from the bowling alley, which is beside his office.
He said: “Our offices back on to the courtyard to the east of the casino, as do other offices, shops and flats. The application proposes a change of use to a bowling alley which will potentially generate a noise nuisance.
“As no noise assessment has been provided it is not possible to determine the noise implications of the proposed scheme. A noise assessment, together with proposals for any required mitigation measures, is required before this application can be properly considered. To grant approval without such an assessment would be in contravention of council policy.”
So far, Dr Armitage is the only person to comment on the plans.
You can view the change of use application at www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=22%2 F02778%2fful#documents_ Section.