March 28, 2019 9.38 am This story is over 60 months old

‘Sign of the times’: Working men’s club to become shops and apartments

The club closed suddenly last year
Monks Road Working Men's Club will close after over one hundred years of service.

The closure of a 100-year-old former working men’s club in Lincoln was described as a “sign of the times” as councillors approved plans for it to be converted into shops and apartments.

An application from Paul Lynch proposed to build 10 apartments, with four retail or service units, at the ground floor of the Monks Road Working Men’s Club.

City of Lincoln councillors approved the plans at a planning committee meeting last night.

The club closed suddenly last year, with a notice that said it had “an insolvency liquidator appointed”.

The much-loved club opened more than 100-years-ago in 1913, and had celebrated its centenary five years prior to closing.

The former Monks Road Working Men’s Club.

A report by council officers said that in most cases the loss of a community facility would “not be supported”, but added that the club had been closed for some time.

Officials at the authority said the plan was a “viable use” of the building and that it would remain in keeping with the surrounding area.

Residents raised concerns about overlooking, the use of the attached car park, the visual amenity of the site and the loss of the community facility.

Councillor Ronald Hills described the loss of the club as “unfortunate”, but added that it was a “sign of the times”.

Meanwhile, Councillor Chris Burke said the move to change the use of the former club was “positive”.

“If it was still in use and still active then we would say that it is a great shame,” he said.

“But it is being brought back into use and that is a good thing and it is a positive use of the building.”

Councillor Kathleen Brothwell, who was once a member of the club, voted to approve the plans but said she hoped the shops would not become “another area that just sit empty”.

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