A WELL-KNOWN social club at the heart of Bingley may be pulled down to make way for nine new homes.

A planning application has been submitted to Bradford Council planners to gain outline permission to demolish the once-thriving York Street Sports and Social club.

Owner Neil Crosswaite, of Micklethwaite, has submitted plans for nine three-bedroomed houses with their own drives which could be built on the town centre site.

Bingley jazz club meets everyThursday at the 1960s single-storey club and organiser Megan Myers said she was taken aback at the news.

“I am surprised and didn’t know anything about this,” she said.

“But then again, I did fear its future might be hanging in the balance as I’ve been told a lease is up at the end of May next year and that it might then be put up for sale.

“We have a huge core and some 68 or so members who come along regularly and I suppose we should start looking for another venue.

“We’re not a heavy-drinking mob, but would provide somewhere with a lively but well-behaved audience.

“We’re just starting to plan next year’s programme so perhaps now is the time to move on.

“What I’d like is for us to move to a well-established and well-organised pub in town, somewhere like the Brown Cow where the jazz club always used to be based.”

Ward councillor Mark Shaw (Con, Bingley) said it would be a shame if the club were to go for good.

“York Street Sports and Social Club has always been a real community hub where over the years lots of people have had christenings, wedding receptions, parties and wakes,” he said.

“I have plenty of friends who still go there. It’s a nice relaxed place to call in and catch up with them or discuss local issues with constituents.

“I’m not sure how good a location it would be for new homes, that will be for planners to decide.

“But personally, I’d be sad to see it go.”

Michael Rowley, of A Design For You, is acting as agent for Mr Crosswaite and submitted the plans.

“This is just an outline planning permission which we have put in and I don’t know how it will proceed from this,” he said.

“It might not ever go ahead as a building scheme, but as I understand it the club will finishing, perhaps in the spring next year.

“Mr Crosswaite is looking at the possibility of selling it with planning permission.

“But somebody might buy it and keep it open.”