A derelict town centre bingo hall could be converted into a brand new sports centre, plans have revealed. Developers have applied for permission to transform the old Mecca bingo hall in Rochdale.
The Smith Street building has stood empty since last summer when Mecca closed down after 20 years.
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The man behind the plans, Richard Tracz, founder and director of Rochdale-based youth football coaching company R-Kix, wants to strip out the building and install four five-a-side football pitches, a running track, four practice cricket strips and a gym.
Documents provided with the planning application say the development 'will provide an excellent sport and fitness use within the town centre environment, which will provide health and wellbeing benefits to the local community and help to preserve and support the vitality and viability of the centre'.
If approved it will be a welcome return to use for a prominent building in the town centre, standing next to the relatively new Rochdale Riverside shopping centre.
The application will be decided at a later date.
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