“Steve, North Street and Portland Street might be adequate to handle the amount of traffic going through the town centre. I just believe that pedestrianising an area has some many repercussions (good and bad) and this kind of change to a town affects more than just movement through a specific area. I'll be setting up a blog/website (in the near future) time permitting, about this issue, as I really feel strongly about it. I also think that the community of Cheltenham could really benefit from using it as a forum to voice there opinions, whether for or against the proposed night club.”

“Ken, North Street and Portland Street would be quite adequate for through traffic. Winchcomb Street is one-way anyway (though you wouldn't think so, the way some people drive).
Of course Cheltenham has a number of night clubs. It's both a spa town and a university town. Its motto is Salubritas Et Eruditio, which means Health (or leisure, or entertainment) and Learning. Though I guess it should be Ne Ponatur In Mea Vicinitate (not in my backyard)”

“To comment on what Matt. H has said:

"Do the existing clubs all have to put the "house full" signs up on a regular basis? If they do, then there is an arguable need for another club."

I have to disagree...the only time there should be an arguable reason to open a night club is if, like you said, all the local nightclubs run at full capacity ALL the time (which they don't) and, more importantly, the need for other facilities have been fully met in an area. Cheltenham has a lack of much more important facilities. Such as cultural venues for the youth in the 16-26 demographic as well as older demographics. If you can name 5 places that cater to all different age groups in easily accessible locations within the town centre, that are not only affordable, but uplift the culture and well being of our community, then a night club would be fine. However, even if all the night clubs in Cheltenham did run at full capacity, I believe there is still not enough cultural facilities here. One of the biggest one (The Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum) will be closing soon for renovation which leaves the people of Cheltenham with very little choice on spending a day out with their children or even enriching their own lives.

Pedestrianising part of Albion and Winchcombe street would not, again in my opinion be any good. Winchcombe street connects the town centre with the ring road and in terms of small business and ease of access through the town centre, is very important. Although there are a few other streets that do the same thing, completely removing them, and pedestrianising this part (or any other part) of the town centre would require major planning and redirection of streets in order to ensure that movement of pedestrians, vehicles, and even bicycles would be well thought out and efficient. To get these kinds of planning permissions takes many years going through the motions of the council and would be expensive.

If there is one thing I will always believe and stand by, it's the fact that building comfortable communities should and is simple. Nightclubs are in abundance in Cheltenham, and a new "super club" will only benefit a few peoples pockets instead of benefiting the community. We need to remember to look at the big picture and not jump to the first idea that comes.”

“I live just along the road from this building, and would welcome a nightclub there. But it should have:
Decent acoustics
Facilities for live acts
Creative DJs who actually do something with the music instead of just playing one track after another
A music policy not aimed primarily at students
Everything working - any breakdowns to be repaired within 24 hours
Carpets that are not sticky
Air that does not smell of stale sweat
A strict bar and admission policy (if they are confident in turning bad customers away, they won't go short of good ones)
An owner-manager, or at least one with a vested interest in its reputation.
How about pedestrianising part of Albion and Winchcomb streets at the same time?”

“Is there actually the demand for another (large) night-club in Cheltenham? Do the existing clubs all have to put the "house full" signs up on a regular basis? If they do, then there is an arguable need for another club. If however the current clubs are more than adequate to cater for the number of prospective clubbers, then a new club in the Odeon would appear to be un-needed, in terms of potential club users at least. Alternatively, other existing clubs will see their customer numbers reduce as clubbers switch to a new venue, which might then drive some existing venues out of business.

Presumably the potential need for a new large club was identified before the previous planning application was submitted, but does that need still exist today? Have any other new clubs opened in this time, or any existing clubs increased their capacities?

Something needs to be done to the Odeon building. But, it needs to be done well, and have a future once completed and opened. A large club which then fails and quickly ceases trading would be a backwards step.”

“The most salient point in this story is that a nightclub at this site was approved in 2008 on appeal.

This is because the planning inspector -who no doubt lives nowhere near Cheltenham - felt he knew what the town needed better than the locally elected politicians sitting on the planning committee.

I find it strange that the planning inspectorate is not being targeted for public spending cuts.”

“I said take back the town in not a literal way, more a 'there is no-where in town that I would consider going for a drink in' I tend to go for Jolly Brew, Tivoli or Wine Bar, avoiding all the scenes you mentioned earlier - drunks and related problems, I am after a good night out and don't wish to mix with the minority maybe who want to act in this way. The need to take a leaf from the Daffodil Restaurant in designing this former cinema, the Daffodil is beautiful inside, a former art deco building that has been restored to its former glory. I agree that planning has to be done on a holistic basis and not on a purely profit related, with the amount of money now in Cheltenham and also the many visitors we receive every year it would be nice to think we had some classy establishments to our name”

“I can think of 10 things I'd enjoy being able to go to that Cheltenham could benefit from(I know parking isn't ideal there) :

1-Bowling alley as the last one closed down :-(
2-Casino
3-Museum - e.g. Waxworks etc
4-Live music/entertainment venue
5-Skating Rink or Indoor Skiing centre
6-Specialist Indoor Sports/Recreation/Activity Centre e.g. climbing, paintballing, air-surfing, laser-quest etc
7-Speciality shops/craft market halls
8-Education Centre/Apprentice rooms
9-Children's play centre/exploratorium
10-Combination of some of the above!

I'm sure collectively people can come up with some ideas that'd have half a chance of gaining traction...”

“well put ken, it would have been nice to see, perhaps a live music venue included to replace the void left by the closure of the axiom centre to bring this building back to it's intended use. i suppose that anything that ends up with the muched deserved tlc being given is a good thing. i can't understand how the regency buildings, (nice, but plentiful) are all protected, but there is no preservation order on buildings such as the odeon and colusseum. you only need to stand outside to see the amount of detailing, (although some now lost), that the architects put in at the time. these glorious art-deco buildings are being demolished nationwide at an alarming rate. a significant styling era reduced to rubble.”

“Another Tesco's would in no way beniefit that area in any way.

Cheltenham has way too many night clubs already. I work part time in a bar and walking home during the ealry hours of the morning is not a very nice picture. The streets are littered with rubbish from drunken people having fast food, there is broken glass everywhere...not too mention the drunken people themselves, who casue so much problems with their behaviour. We should be tackling these kinds of problems, not fuelling the fire. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against people going out and having a good time, however, the problem with binge drinking needs to be addressed before more drinking establishments (especially one of this scale) are developed. And lets be realistic...if, on a weekend, capacity of such a night club reached 70% (even on 50%), all the people there would cause problems. Not only for the police, but for innocent people minding their own business. When large groups of people are brought together in such a small space, and alcohol is mixed into the eqaution, problmes WILL be a regular occurance. Why do you think, MacDonalds and Burger King employ door men at night? On my walks to and from work at night I see fights breaking out all the time.

I have to disagree about the town center being "taken over" by the youth. We, as a community just have to sit back and realise that there is not much for the youth to do in Cheltenham....going out and getting drunk all the time is an obvious choice as it is one of the only social things they can do at night or on weekends. There is nothing stopping the older generation from going out and having a pint. In fact, some of our best customer sin the bar I work have long past their 20's. The truth is, what the town centre needs is to be saved.

I studied a subject related to the built envrionent, and have because of this, taken an interest in urban design and town planning. Having said this, if the council approve this they are only doing themselves a disfavour becasue, in my opinion, this would be a massive mistake in terms of creating a community, positive culture, ignoring historical value and completely ignoring the context of the area.

Yes, the building is an eye sore. The coucncil should be playing an active part in trying to solve this. And we, the people of Cheltenham should eb doing something too.

In a way, if this night club ever materilaised (even though I beleieve if it did, it would fail miserably), it would only benefit us in one way...the refurbishment of that beautiful building.”