A CONTROVERSIAL plan to turn part of a former Basingstoke bar into a betting shop will be discussed at a council meeting next week.

William Hill has applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for planning permission to change the use of the bottom part of 25-27A Winchester Street into a betting shop.

The site was formerly Cafe Piccolo – an Italian restaurant, before being reopened as a nightclub.

As part of the plans, the upper part of the building will retain its “drinking establishment” use and William Hill has also applied for permission to install a satellite dish and three air conditioning units at the site.

Councillors on the borough council’s development control committee will discuss the plans at a meeting next Wednesday.

Planning officers have received 17 letters of objection from members of the public in relation to the proposed scheme, as well as comments from councillors who say another betting shop will prevent "innovative" retail businesses looking to fill empty units as part of the local authority’s Town Centre Programme.

In a report for the meeting, Basingstoke Liberal Democrats leader and ward member for Eastrop, Councillor Gavin James, raised concerns about the scheme, saying that another betting shop would not support the council’s ambition for the Top of The Town.

He said: “I am concerned about how this development would meet our objectives to create a ‘top of town’ we can be proud of.

“I have no issue that betting shops are popular destinations for some, but the town centre is already very well catered for in this regard.

"The council are investing considerable money in improving the public realm of the town centre to encourage more retail businesses, particularly smaller more local business that can complement and improve the offer to increase the footfall of the town centre.”

Deputy leader and Cabinet member for housing and regeneration, Cllr Terri Reid, who is responsible for the Town Centre Programme, added: “I do not believe that yet another betting shop in any way advances the plan for the Top of Town, and I feel that with the Top of Town Masterplan we already have the policies in place to enable us to turn down the application.”

The application made by William Hill says: “25-27A Winchester Street has been vacant since November 2013 and as such, during this time, it has not contributed to the vitality and viability of the Town Centre.

“The proposals will encourage pedestrian activity and contribute to the mix of uses in this town centre location. Importantly, the proposals will bring a long-standing vacant unit into active and beneficial use, in addition to creating a number of employment opportunities.”