The Mecca Bingo club in Taunton has become the centre of attention as campaigners want to turn it back to a theatre. With bingo clubs closing regularly at the moment the news might sound quite familar. That is until you find out that this club is not up for sale, it is attracting 2,000 people and makes a profit.

However, plans have been put forward to the local council to turn the current Mecca hall into a venue which would "attract top stars such as Madonna".

The listed building, which was opened as the Gaumont Palace Theatre in 1932, is currently used for bingo.

Following our article highlighting the issues earlier this year Jim Laflin has hit back at Mecca Bingo and comments that have been made in relation to proposals.

"I am the founder of Project Gaumont and at no time have we proposed that Taunton's Mecca Bingo club should be moved out of the building or closed down.

We have proposed that space could be made in the building for a new bingo club, that the auditorium could be redeveloped as a Tier 1 theatre, and that space could be made for other entertainments in the building.

The proposed changes would be extremely beneficial to Taunton's Mecca Bingo club, since additional activities in the building would take a share of the overheads.

Additional footfall through the building would also give more people an opportunity to see the present bingo club in operation and could result in more people joining the club.

Conversely, the 2,000 people who play bingo every week would be potential customers for all of the other entertainments in the building. The existence of the bingo club in the building would be a key factor in the success of an Entertainment Centre based on the model proposed by Project Gaumont.

Project Gaumont have presented proposals at two meetings of Taunton Deane's Scrutiny Committees which both had considerable public attendance, and councillors gave unanimous support for their proposals on both occasions.

I accept Mrs Borska-Ulatowska's comment that there is nowhere in the building which could accommodate 500 people playing bingo, but it would be possible to raise the roof to make a new room which could accommodate up to 700 people. Such a space would have magnificent views in all directions and could easily accommodate a bar and cafe.

At no time have Project Gaumont suggested that Rank should meet the £15 million cost of redeveloping the building as proposed. We merely stated that £15 million was the estimated cost of the refurbishment which includes raising the roof.

Plans to replace the car park next to the bingo club with grass and planted areas have been approved by Taunton Deane's Planning committee, and Mecca Bingo's Managing Director has said that £500,000 earmarked for renovating Taunton's club was being withdrawn as a result.

That suggest that the profitability of the club is not quite as good as your article implies. If that is the case then Project Gaumont's plans, which would result in a substantial reduction of the club's overheads, could result in the club's salvation rather than its demise.

Project Gaumont are proposing that the car park should be relaid and given a cover so that it could be used as an arena. That would preserve the car parking facilities, and and we are still trying to change the council's mind on that point.

At the present time the management of Mecca Bingo are only looking for problems with Project Gaumont's proposals. I suggest that if they spent some time looking at the advantages, they might be very pleasantly surprised."

A spokesperson for Mecca said they had "no plans to go anywhere" and that they currently make a profit, attracting 2,000 customers per week.

Jim believes they can all work together with the bingo being held in the grand building above the main entrance. This would then free up the auditorium, which has a 1,750 capacity, to "restore it to a tier one theatre".

"They might say they have no plans to move out and I'm quite sure as of today they don't, but why would a business turn down the possibility of saving £100,000 per annum when really there is no disadvantage to them whatever," he added.

The group proposes a £15million investment by Rank to turn the building into an arts and entertainment centre with a 1,500-seat theatre, bingo hall, youth club, roof restaurant, art gallery, bars, cafes, a small casino, and a covered arena on Castle Green capable of hosting concerts.

Mecca Bingo says the proposals are needless and are upsetting members

The plans look unlikely to get the backing of building owners Rank.

Mecca General Manager, Mrs Borska-Ulatowska said: “We are not closing – we have been here 29 years and there are no plans for us to go anywhere. Customers have seen the articles about Project Gaumont’s plans and they are worried so we would like to reassure people,” she said.

“We don’t need these plans – we are trading well.

“Project Gaumont’s plans seem to demean bingo as a waste of the building but they should talk to some of our customers to see how important it is to them.

“People come from all over the area - and some come two or three times a week. We are not just a bingo hall – we are a social place for people to meet with friends.”

The bingo hall has seats for 1,170 players and regularly attracts more than 500 people for the Sunday evening session.

“There is no other space in the building that could accommodate bingo for this many people,” added Mrs Borska-Ulatowska.

“The plans sound lovely and it’s great to see people who want to make Taunton more cultural – but not in this building.”