No more live shows at BB Clubhouse

Big Bullets have said their clubhouse will no longer host live-band shows to comply with Blantyre City Council’s (BCC) by-laws aimed at reducing noise pollution.

The development follows a meeting which the People’s Team had with BCC on Wednesday which both parties described as fruitful.

Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire and BCC director of planning Costly Chanza confirmed the news in separate interviews.

And while admitting that the move will have an adverse effect on the club’s fund-raising ventures, they had to comply considering the bigger picture.

“Of course, live-band shows were one of the main sources of revenue at the club, but then we had to look at the bigger picture to convince the Town Planning Committee through the BCC to reconsider their decision.

“There are several ways of using the club to generate revenue and, as an executive committee we will explore other ways. As the saying goes, when one door is closed, the other is open,” said Mkandawire.

He said for now, the club will be used for administrative and recreation services.

Mkandawire also said BCC has since advised them to appeal against the order to close the facility within a month from March 28.

“It was a fruitful meeting and the council advised us to appeal to the Town Planning Committee which ordered the closure and we’ll comply accordingly,” he said.

Chanza described the meeting they had with the club’s management as beneficial.

“The meeting was called to hear their side of the story and we raised the issue of noise pollution which was the Town Planning’s major concern and advised them to stop live band shows.

“I cannot pre-empt the outcome, but we advised them to make a formal appeal to the Town Planning Committee for their perusal,” he said.

Bullets claim the clubhouse generates about K250 000 (about $625), a month which goes towards the team’s operations.