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Evolution Paintball wants to use block for huge amateur tournament

9:30am Monday 8th March 2010 in News By Emma Thomas

Game on? Danny Dewey, wife Vicky and Rob Wells outside the building they want to turn into a paintballing venue Game on? Danny Dewey, wife Vicky and Rob Wells outside the building they want to turn into a paintballing venue

SOUTHEND could have the biggest indoor paintballing centre in the country if plans to convert an abandoned office block are agreed.

Businessman Danny Dewey is set to put in ambitious plans to convert Heath House, in Victoria Avenue, to accommodate up to 300 paintballers.

He started his own business, Evolution Paintball, in November last year, and said he will be submitting the plans in the next couple of weeks.

Mr Dewey, 30, from Southend, said: “Once we have the centre up and running, my company will be based from there.

“I have worked in the paintballing industry for the past ten years and we could have had a location at Bournes Green in Southend, but that was only for 28 days.

“Seeing the office block there we thought, ‘we could use that’.”

Mr Dewey started the business with his 26-year-old wife, Vicky, and they are hoping to stage the largest paintballing tournament in the UK, with 96 teams of ten people. They will be running a smaller tournament on March 29 at Delta Force, in Juniper Wood, Billericay. They hope to secure Heath House in time to start running the larger tournament on Sundays in August.

Mr Dewey added: “There are a lot of tournaments across the country but they are aimed at professionals, so we want to open this up to the amateur who wants a good laugh.

“We want to keep this local.”

He said the paintball centre would be on each of the ten floors of the former office block.

He said: “It looks as though it will hold 200 to 300 people, and what we are looking to do is run it from a hub on the fifth floor, so people can go up and down the floors.”

Labour ward councillor Ian Gilbert said: “I am in favour of anything that brings those buildings back into use, and it sounds like an interesting project. Obviously it would be subject to caveats about noise and impact on people who live in the area.

“It is an exciting idea, but we want to make sure residents aren’t inconvenienced by it.”

For more information contact danny@evolutionpb.co.uk

Comments(45)

southendcritic says...
10:09am Mon 8 Mar 10

good idear !
or mabey the local residents like the look of an old tired office block in there backyard and will say no thankyou we like the idear of an abandoned block of buildings

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southendreb says...
10:34am Mon 8 Mar 10

If the extra parking spaces can be sorted out. Certainly would bring the fun element back into the town

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EvolutionPaintball says...
11:54am Mon 8 Mar 10

I'm Danny from Evolution Paintball, its great to see such promising replies from the community and let me just add as far as parking goes the site has parking capacity for upto 270 vehices and has 4 entrances into the site so we anticipate parking not to be an issue.

Regards

Danny

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Davey B says...
2:10pm Mon 8 Mar 10

southendcritic wrote:
good idear ! or mabey the local residents like the look of an old tired office block in there backyard and will say no thankyou we like the idear of an abandoned block of buildings
Can I suggest you try and obtain an education?

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southendcritic says...
2:12pm Mon 8 Mar 10

EvolutionPaintball wrote:
I'm Danny from Evolution Paintball, its great to see such promising replies from the community and let me just add as far as parking goes the site has parking capacity for upto 270 vehices and has 4 entrances into the site so we anticipate parking not to be an issue. Regards Danny
good luck Danny :)

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southendcritic says...
2:15pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Davey B wrote:
southendcritic wrote: good idear ! or mabey the local residents like the look of an old tired office block in there backyard and will say no thankyou we like the idear of an abandoned block of buildings
Can I suggest you try and obtain an education?
idiot! there ;)

it's the speeling policce

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twigirl1901 says...
2:29pm Mon 8 Mar 10

I think this is a brilliant idea, my son has been paintballing a couple of times but there is nothing local enough for him, he would spend a great deal of time there, come on Southend council, this can only bring good things to the town.

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radioman says...
3:27pm Mon 8 Mar 10

I really do not understand what paintballing is all about, and at the age of 81, do not think I would do it even if it were free. I can just see the fun in slipping through a forest after your opponent, but charging through offices and shooting paint here and there, is, to me, just plain daft.

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craig301081 says...
4:51pm Mon 8 Mar 10

radioman wrote:
I really do not understand what paintballing is all about, and at the age of 81, do not think I would do it even if it were free. I can just see the fun in slipping through a forest after your opponent, but charging through offices and shooting paint here and there, is, to me, just plain daft.
Radioman, there are two choices here, you could either have loads of teenagers running round the streets making lots of noise and causing trouble. Or, you could have loads of teenagers running around an empty office block, off the streets, paintballing with one another, learning teamwork and having a great time. Personally i know which one id rather choose.

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Nebs says...
5:03pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Sounds great, but surely the rates would be astronomical.

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Iron Mighty says...
5:13pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Not the sort of use I'd personally like to see the building being put to, but at least it won't be empty for much longer.

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southendreb says...
5:20pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Perhaps its no difference to us playing cowboys and indians when we were kids
I am sure people will get more fun out of this than the waste of 13 milllion a diving pool. Southend was a fun place to live in the 60s lewts bring it back.

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152 says...
5:21pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Will this be permanent or only for the duration of the August paintballing event?

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geezer, innit says...
5:21pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Iron Mighty wrote:
Not the sort of use I'd personally like to see the building being put to, but at least it won't be empty for much longer.
turn it into a prison

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EvolutionPaintball says...
5:36pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Wow, so many comments. I like to see that my fellow residents of Southend have a good voice.

RadioMan: scenarios are created in any location and with the best part of 30years in the woods its abiut time paintball changed at least this will bring it a bit closer to home for everyone and besides we do have some interesting scenarios designed.

152 of Rochford: Nope definately a permanent thing the tournament is our way of saying 'Hi, we are HERE'

Danny

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Virtuallintu says...
5:44pm Mon 8 Mar 10

What a creative idea to make use of an empty office block for paint balling. I really hope this goes through. Good luck Evolution Paintball.

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TheEssexGooner says...
6:15pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Not sure if this is wise, I saw Byker Grove and what happened to PJ, shocking, still havent got over it :)

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Southendman says...
6:27pm Mon 8 Mar 10

So we got thousands of people on a housing waiting list 5,000 unemployed in Southend and all we can use this big building for is paintballing!!!! Get a grip for god's sack it's about time stop thinking of new upmarket restaurants and bars and fancy leisure pursuits for the rich and help the suffering in this town.

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reptile says...
6:29pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Or you could join the army, go to Afghanistan and experience the real thing.

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x2k says...
7:16pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Southendman wrote:
So we got thousands of people on a housing waiting list 5,000 unemployed in Southend and all we can use this big building for is paintballing!!!! Get a grip for god's sack it's about time stop thinking of new upmarket restaurants and bars and fancy leisure pursuits for the rich and help the suffering in this town.
It's so easy to moan, but difficult to create. However, here we have an enterprising person wanting to invest money in the town.
--
There have already been plans for converting this building into affordable housing, but 6 years on from its closure, it remains empty & crumbling. So why not try encourage something different?
--
It's weird, wonderful & unique - why the hell not :-)

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Soozie says...
7:33pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Southendman wrote:
So we got thousands of people on a housing waiting list 5,000 unemployed in Southend and all we can use this big building for is paintballing!!!! Get a grip for god's sack it's about time stop thinking of new upmarket restaurants and bars and fancy leisure pursuits for the rich and help the suffering in this town.
The suffering? I have yet to see anyone in Southend suffering.

5,000 unemployed? I'll wager most of the 5,000 have never worked and have no intention of working.

I would hardly call a few new bars and a paintballing venue fancy pursuits.

Good luck to you Danny! I hope you do well.

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evilc says...
9:38pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Good luck Danny I will get our Company to come along if granted.

You must be brave to take on such overheads.

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Max Impact says...
11:07pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Done it a few times great fun...

Untill you get hit in the goolies.

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BASILBRUSH says...
3:13am Tue 9 Mar 10

Its a shame the buildings are not being used as offices, but at least they will be used.
Paintballing attracts all-sorts, from corporate team building, stag parties, youth groups etc....Great fun.

Evolutionpaintball I wish you luck. At least it will provide some jobs and a use for the buildings. Will the exterior of the building be maintained and tidied up?

TheEssexGooner... He should never have removed his mask!

Max Impact.... Is that how you got your name?..... :o

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anon anon says...
7:31am Tue 9 Mar 10

Max Impact wrote:
Done it a few times great fun... Untill you get hit in the goolies.
hahahahah....

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essexboi1989 says...
8:45am Tue 9 Mar 10

great idea :-)

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DannyK86 says...
10:52am Tue 9 Mar 10

I like the idea, but I wonder whether the rate and especially the business rates will be affordable for the paintballing business?

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richomack360 says...
11:01am Tue 9 Mar 10

Southendman wrote:
So we got thousands of people on a housing waiting list 5,000 unemployed in Southend and all we can use this big building for is paintballing!!!! Get a grip for god's sack it's about time stop thinking of new upmarket restaurants and bars and fancy leisure pursuits for the rich and help the suffering in this town.
Get a grip for God's sack ?

Sounds painful

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richomack360 says...
11:04am Tue 9 Mar 10

radioman wrote:
I really do not understand what paintballing is all about, and at the age of 81, do not think I would do it even if it were free. I can just see the fun in slipping through a forest after your opponent, but charging through offices and shooting paint here and there, is, to me, just plain daft.
At the age of 28 I do not understand what pulling your trousers upto your nipples / bowls / knitting / watching As Time goes By or Max Bygraves / Des 'O' Connor are all about. Must be an age thing I guess

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thelonewhinger says...
11:41am Tue 9 Mar 10

Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me?

Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....

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richomack360 says...
11:55am Tue 9 Mar 10

thelonewhinger wrote:
Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me? Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
No...I really don't. The world of kids thinking they have tons of life experience and are "super-cool" because they talk like 50 Cent is still very much a mystery to me.

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sav25 says...
12:38pm Tue 9 Mar 10

richomack360 wrote:
thelonewhinger wrote: Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me? Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
No...I really don't. The world of kids thinking they have tons of life experience and are "super-cool" because they talk like 50 Cent is still very much a mystery to me.
haha! Yeah i'm sure 50 cent sits at home on his PC and writes comments on local nespaper articles?!? Wanabe!

Good Luck with the idea - would be great for birthdays

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anon anon says...
12:46pm Tue 9 Mar 10

richomack360 wrote:
thelonewhinger wrote: Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me? Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
No...I really don't. The world of kids thinking they have tons of life experience and are "super-cool" because they talk like 50 Cent is still very much a mystery to me.
its pathetic isnt it..

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SARFENDMAN says...
1:32pm Tue 9 Mar 10

Good luck to this venture but another sad demise in a one past administration's dream from just over the road. They dreamed Southend would rival London in terms of an office block centre and put an end to the "kiss me quick" image of the town for good. My,... as Bob would say... "Times are a changin".

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richomack360 says...
1:41pm Tue 9 Mar 10

sav25 wrote:
richomack360 wrote:
thelonewhinger wrote: Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me? Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
No...I really don't. The world of kids thinking they have tons of life experience and are "super-cool" because they talk like 50 Cent is still very much a mystery to me.
haha! Yeah i'm sure 50 cent sits at home on his PC and writes comments on local nespaper articles?!? Wanabe! Good Luck with the idea - would be great for birthdays
I reckon 50 Cent does indeed comment on local issues - such as the potholes in Benfleet and is really gonna pop a few caps into Cuckoo Corner

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Finders says...
2:14pm Tue 9 Mar 10

This would be excellent for the area and especially for me. love paintball and live pretty much next door. Taking a vandals dream and turning it in to something like this is brilliant.
Only thing that worries me is some clever clogs sniping someones back garden from the top floor. Newspapers would love to bring more bad press on the sport. Long as its fully enclosed, safe with zero impact on parking then bring it on!

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BASILBRUSH says...
2:23pm Tue 9 Mar 10

thelonewhinger wrote:
Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me?

Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
What?

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Luther101 says...
2:26pm Tue 9 Mar 10

Surely everyone has missed the point here.....this is an ideal oppotunity for the poilce to practice thei live weapons training. They could let loose prisoners in the building who are serving life sentences and will never be freed. They can then prctise not shooting them as a way of fresehning up their weapon skills.

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thelonewhinger says...
4:02pm Tue 9 Mar 10

sav25 - "Great for birthdays" - are you serious? Yeah lets go and practice shootin each uvver wiv paint! - brilliant and much cooler than plain old food fights.....

As to 50 Cent (whoever he is) me is da fan ov Goldie Lookin Chain.

Wrong pastime. wrong place in my view.

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EvolutionPaintball says...
8:49am Wed 10 Mar 10

Hi again, its Dannt from Evolution Paintball. well the response has certainly been interesting and for those of you who would like to follow our progress we are on facebook,myspace, twitter & bebo

Danny

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Luther101 says...
12:40pm Wed 10 Mar 10

thelonewhinger wrote:
Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me? Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
You are Terry F*ckwit and I claim ny £5

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vanilla ice says...
10:01pm Wed 10 Mar 10

thelonewhinger wrote:
Well don Bruv! Dem ol geezas don get it ? Us nows dis is gud praktis for de real tower block wars get me?

Dem Somalis duwin de smack n'crak got de xpo unus innit. Get sum praktis 4 real guy no what um sayin.....
I bet I know who you are, that bloke that takes my call at AOL when I have trouble with my internet connection, and tells me that he will talk me though the problem , if I ever get my hands round your scrawny neck.

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sammylu1994 says...
9:49pm Thu 11 Mar 10

hgelllo i am a teenager my self and i am not being funny but i would not like to have that bilding used as a paint thing i would rather ger a icerink in southend because the closes one is far away as my mum and dad dont drive i cant go iceskating and i would like to go so u know would be to near to southend libery as welll

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AuldGit says...
6:37am Fri 12 Mar 10

Maybe they could do it to the outside of Tetris towers opposite Sainsbury's - a few paint splashes might brighten it up a bit more!

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Soozie says...
11:46am Fri 12 Mar 10

sammylu1994 wrote:
hgelllo i am a teenager my self and i am not being funny but i would not like to have that bilding used as a paint thing i would rather ger a icerink in southend because the closes one is far away as my mum and dad dont drive i cant go iceskating and i would like to go so u know would be to near to southend libery as welll
Stay in school sweetheart and learn to spell.

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