Empty shop could be turned into new darts centre

Stowmarket could welcome a new darts venue if funding is approved

A new community darts venue could be opened in an empty shop if funding is agreed by a council.

The former Stannards Store, in Tavern Street, Stowmarket, Suffolk is being considered for redevelopment to house the darts centre.

Mid Suffolk District Council's cabinet will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to award £125,000 in funding to the project.

Richard Winch, the authority's cabinet member for housing and property, said if approved the darts centre would be a "genuinely new and exciting attraction".

The former Stannards Store in Stowmarket could be reopened into a darts centre

The council will decide whether to match funding from its £1.5m Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund for the darts venue.

The fund launched last year and aimed to bring the town's empty High Street units back into use and help support new businesses.

It was made possible thanks to the council's income from its investment in the Gateway 14 business, innovation and logistics park at the edge of the town.

The council will also decide over it will invest £615,000 from the fund into the John Peel Centre for creative arts.

The site's first-floor ballroom could be restored with this money, while a cafe and music bar could be developed on the ground floor.

The council could make improvements to the John Peel Centre Stowmarket

"We launched this fund because it presented a fantastic opportunity to do something new and stimulate investment in the town centre. We are now seeing the benefits," Winch said.

"If the funding is approved, the community and youth darts centre would be a genuinely new and exciting attraction to the town centre.

"And, if agreed, the funding for the John Peel Centre would help it further expand what is already a brilliant cultural offering in the heart of Stowmarket."

He added that it was important bids brought "something new to the town" rather than "competing with what is already there".