Martial arts plan for former club
A disused nightclub could be partially redeveloped into a martial arts club, if plans are approved.
British Military Martial Arts Ltd director Lee Matthews has applied to convert the first-floor dancefloor into a training area and spectator area on the first floor of Midnights, in Wellington.
In a statement, the Tweedale-based company said the venue is “in a state of disrepair” so reusing it would enhance the area, and promised to encourage students to use the nearby bus and train stations to cut pollution.
Wellington Town Council will be consulted and Telford and Wrekin Council will decide about the change-of-use application at a later date.
Application documents submitted by Mr Matthews say BMMA plans “to section off roughly half of the first floor of the nightclub to convert it into a martial arts club”.
If approved, the change-of-use would apply only to the front half of the nightclub, facing The Parade.
“We will be removing the dancefloor in this area and creating a matted training area with barriers and a spectator seating area,” he writes.
“We will create an office space on the mezzanine floor and build a staircase to access this.”
A heritage statement, submitted with the application, acknowledges that Wellington town centre has a number of listed buildings, but says none are on the same street as Midnights.
“The location is currently a closed nightclub and is in a state of disrepair,” it adds.
“As we will be tidying and maintaining the entrance area we feel this will only be a positive thing for the surrounding area.”
It says the sign will be replaced, and the new one will have subtle lighting from below, and points out that the club is “very close to a bus and train station, which we will be encouraging our students to use to mitigate cars and pollution in the area”.
