Final eyes down for Milford Bingo Hall (From Western Telegraph)

Final eyes down for Milford Bingo Hall

10:40am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News

A Milford Haven bingo hall will call out its final numbers tomorrow (Sunday).

Top Ten Bingo confirmed the closure of its two Pembrokeshire branches in Milford Haven’s Charles Street and Pembroke Dock’s Queen Street. The final night of eyes down will be held on March 24.

Assistant manager at the Milford Haven branch Nathan Griffiths said that business at the branch was suffering, and closure had been on the cards for a number of years.

He said: “A lot of customers are gutted because they’ve been coming here for a long time, but unfortunately, it has been coming for years.”

He added: “It’s a big shame, because there won’t be any Bingo clubs left around here, and the closest one will be Swansea.”

Milford Haven Business Circle chairman Lynne Turner said that despite such announcements itwasimportant to look at the positive side of trading in the town.

She said: “Although we are always sorry to hear of any businesses closing in the area, at least two new businesses will be opening in Milford Haven in the very short term, and a further business – formerly West Coast Clothing – will be staying in local hands.

“So it’s not all negative.

We are fighting really hard for a positive way forward to smarten the town up. It’s a complex issue, and we need to get more people to work together and sing from the same hymn sheet.”

Mrs Turner said that at a recent Milford Haven Business Circle AGM, a proposal was put together to start taking small but joined-up steps towards the goal of smartening up the town centre.

She said: “With the economy struggling, and the continuing draw of out of town retail parks, it is becoming harder to sustain the independent high street. But it is at the heart of the community, and also employs a serious number of people from that community.

“With the support of each other, working towards a common goal and taking small steps to achieve it, I hope we can make simple changes that will start to impact on how the wider public view our town.”

She added: “The Business Circle is actively looking to get people to work together in the town centre, and we’re calling for local businesses, Pembrokeshire County Council, and other bodies to get involved with the redevelopment of our town.

“We hope that local businesses get on board and back us, and the small steps we take to improve the environment will be respected and supported by local people as well.”

Local businesses and those interested in the town’s regeneration can search for the Milford Haven Business Circle group on Facebook. The next Business Circle meeting will be held at the Torch Theatre Gallery, on Wednesday, March 13, at 6pm. Milford Haven businesses that want to know more are invited to come along, or contact Lynne Turner at Snapdragon for more information.

Top Ten Holdings Plc headquarters gave no comment.