An empty bingo hall is to become a 100-seat restaurant.

Mid Sussex District Council's planning committee is allowing developers to convert the old bingo hall in Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill.

The developer plans to install new windows in the western side of the building, facing Cyprus Road, to turn the hall, originally built in the early Seventies, into a restaurant.

It would be open until 11pm seven days a week and is being developed by investment company Damworth Holdings.

Councillors threw out a separate scheme to turn the building into a bar and restaurant.

Police and neighbours had objected to the proposal for a bar, saying it would bring more drunks and troublemakers to the town centre.

Monday, September 26 2005