A Council Leader Calls for More Gambling Licence Powers
Despite council opposition, Former Lloyds Bank set to become a gambling venue.
Key Facts:
- Enfield Council wanted to block the conversion of a former bank to a slot venue
- The slot venue’s operator appealed against the council’s decision to block the conversion
- The operator ended up winning the appeal, so the conversion will go ahead
An operator of gambling venues wanted to turn a former Lloyds Bank in Palmers Green into a 24-hour slots gaming centre. Enfield Council decided to formally block the conversion out of concerns about gambling problems among local residents.
The gambling operator lodged an appeal against the council’s decision and ultimately won it. The now vacant bank will therefore become a slots centre. A council member, Ergin Erbil, was one of numerous politicians who wanted reforms to give councils more authority to deny gambling licences.
The Letter to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Reform
These politicians signed a letter calling for the government to reform gambling laws that don’t protect people, including the vulnerable, from various harms associated with gambling. In the letter, the government was asked to update how it categorises gambling venues and give councils more powers to deny gambling licences.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Reform endorsed the letter. The cross-party group supports the need for reform because of the negative impact that gambling venues can have on local communities; councils can be powerless to stop these opening.
In fact, any type of gambling venue can cause problems that then become a drain on council services, which are already struggling. Services dealing with things like homelessness and mental health issues might not be able to cope with more people relying on them due to gambling problems.
Opposition to the Palmers Green Slot Centre
Last year, Enfield Council decided not to allow the conversion of the former Lloyds bank to a slot centre to go ahead. The council had received a petition against this signed by more than 1,000 residents.
It refused planning permission for the slots venue, claiming that it would negatively affect the town’s character and make the area less appealing. It would also result in there being an excess of gambling venues in the area.
This follows the opening of a similar venue, a 24-hour slot machine arcade operated by Merkur that opened on Palmers Green High Street in 2021. It opened in October 2021 and also attracted opposition.
Reasons the Conversion Is Going Ahead
When Palace Amusements, the company behind the new slots venue, lodged an appeal, a hearing was then held in February of this year. People from various organisations and businesses spoke against the application for the conversion of the former bank.
However, in a ruling issued on the 26th of March, the inspector in charge of dealing with the case gave some reasons as to why Palace Amusements’ appeal had been successful. The following points were made:
- If the Palace Amusements venue opened, gambling locations would still make up only a small part of the Palmers Green high street
- With the new venue open, there would not be an over-concentration of gambling venues in the area
- There would be an even split of betting shops and adult gaming centres, meaning there’d be a diversity of gambling opportunities in the area
Naturally, various people in Palmers Green have expressed frustration and disappointment with the decision to allow the Palace Amusements slots venue to go ahead. One such person is Mati Valdivieso from Palmers Green Action Team, who has said the following:
Despite the strength of community opposition, the uncomfortable truth became clear: the council lacks real power.– Mati Valdivieso, Palmers Green Action Team Member Comments on New Gambling Venue, PGWeb
Concerns about the potential rise in anti-social behaviour, crime and other negative effects of gambling if the venue were to go ahead were highlighted. Mati also spoke about how businesses often have expensive legal teams that can exploit loopholes to make things go ahead despite opposition from locals.
Lastly, Mati said it was disheartening that the slots venue is going ahead despite all the work that local people have put in to prevent it from going ahead. Mati and others want Palmers Green to promote businesses that positively impact people.
