Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Another betting shop planned on Lordship Lane please help

Morning all,

We have just found out that Paddy Power wants to open a betting shop in the recently closed pub on Lordship (606 Lordship Lane N22 5JH) about 5-7 minutes walk from Wood Green tube station. I live locally and am totally outraged as there are already 2 betting shops within 30 seconds walk of that old pub - a William Hill and Ladbrokes.

There is a sign on the door saying Paddy Power has submitted an application under the Gambling Act 2005 and that any representations need to be made in writing to the licensing authorities by 25th March.

I know similar situations have cropped up on Green Lanes and some of you have been active in fighting it - I would like your advice on how to stop this! I am planning writing to local councilors and MPs and will start a petition .

How can it be allowed to have three in such a short stretch of street - the noise and rubbish these places produce is terrible?

Please sign the petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/not-another-betting-shop-on-lord...

Thanks for your support!

Katie

Tags for Forum Posts: betting, petition, shop

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Permalink Reply by Katie Tucker on March 12, 2014 at 13:58

Hello Pippa - i have arranged to meet Mei Wang at Noel Park at 11.30 as i mentioned in a previous post... so many getting hard to follow ;-) feel free to come along - aim really is to establish the points we want people to put across in the objection - we already have a draft letter but wanted to add a few facts that are currently missing + agree on how we get as many people as possible sending it off to the authorities.

good point about other betting shops.

I might start a new post with latest on this campaign so people don't get lost in all the comments we have had on this.

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Permalink Reply by Katie Tucker on March 13, 2014 at 9:54

http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/richard-godwin-were-losin...

Richard Godwin from the Evening Standard wrote something in yesterday's paper about betting shops in Harringay

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Permalink Reply by George Schon on March 13, 2014 at 10:51

I've made some posters and flyers and have began plastering the area. The more people who know about this/know how to object the better! Please pass these links onto everyone, download & print as many as possible! FYI I've already started giving posters the nearby shops -loads of support there- and on Scotch Estate

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2702980/NO%20TO%20PADDY%20POWER...

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Permalink Reply by Racheal Leigh on March 13, 2014 at 11:49

Hi- I've written an email of objection to Licensing, Copying in Lynne Featherstone and David Lammy - a question - the email I think is licensing@haringey.gov.uk - will it go through spelt licensing@harringey.gov.uk as on the poster? thanks

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Permalink Reply by George Schon on March 13, 2014 at 12:15

Good spot Racheal- the posters have been changed. Links are the same. The local shop keepers are unanimously with us, although I'm not 100% sure they will all send complaints in. The owner of the fish and chip shop next door is especially angry about it though.

A good idea may be to draft a letter (or versions), outlining the various concerns they may face on their behalf, then ask for their signature. Concerns from local businesses about crime/anti social and also negative impact on business could be a really useful angle and should not be overlooked.

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Permalink Reply by Katie Tucker on March 13, 2014 at 12:33

yes i think that can work - i will print out a draft letter (s) and go around getting individual letter signatures tomorrow Mei Lang has done a great draft already we can use - just need to add some additional stats.

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Permalink Reply by Racheal Leigh on March 13, 2014 at 12:57

Great - if there is anything you would like me to do to help on this, please let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Racheal Leigh on March 13, 2014 at 12:53

No problem.

I got a swift response to my letter to licensing from David Lammy's office which I've shared below and includes my original email. Sorry it's a bit long!!!

Dear Leigh

Re: Paddy Power’s Application for Planning Permission for a betting shop at

606 Lordship Lane, London, N22 5JH

Thank you for contacting my office regarding Paddy Power’s submission of planning permission for a new betting shop at 606 Lordship Lane, London, N22 5JH.

I totally share your concerns. There are now over 65 bookmakers in Haringey. Our high streets are becoming consumed by betting shops and pay-day lenders.

It is a fundamental element of localism, indeed of democracy, that citizens in a particular area should have a say over what happens in that area. Local people do not want yet another betting shop damaging the fabric and diversity of Haringey’s high streets. Local councils do have some powers, although limited, to control the number and locations of betting shops, and we ask them to listen to the views of local people when making this decision.

As you know, I did table an amendment to the Localism Bill, which would have given councils new powers to control the number of betting shops on their high streets. Sadly, my amendment was defeated by Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs. 221 Labour MPs voted for the amendment, which fulfilled a 2010 Manifesto pledge to empower communities to control betting shop numbers. 315 Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs voted against the amendment, including the Member of Parliament for this constituency, Lynne Featherstone.

Betting shops have sadly become an increasingly familiar sight on Haringey’s high streets. For example, within walking distance, there are nine gambling premises in one 350 metre stretch of Harringay Green Lanes. We can, however, make a difference. In October 2012, I led a successful campaign with local communities from across the borough to prevent a new betting shop opening on Green Lanes. Despite the fact that the incumbent MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone does not oppose the opening of new betting shops, we can still pressure the Licensing Committee of Haringey Council to reject planning permission for this site.

I will shortly be launching a local and national campaign to oppose the opening of another betting shop on Lordship lane, and I would be thrilled if I could count on your support. Please sign up to my newsletter using the following link to receive more information on the campaign: http://www.davidlammy.co.uk/New_Tottenham_Newsletter

Finally, Catherine West Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green and I are leading a local campaign against the opening of this particular betting shop, and it would be great if you could sign the petition we launched yesterday, calling on Haringey Council Licensing Committee to reject planning permission. The petition can be found by clicking here.

Thank you for contacting my office regarding this important matter. I assure you I will continue to campaign against the proliferation of betting shops threatening the livelihoods of our high streets and communities.

Kind regards

Rt Hon David Lammy MP

Member of Parliament for Tottenham

020 7219 0899

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-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Thursday, 13 March, 2014 11:51am
To: "licensing@haringey.gov.uk" a href="mailto:licensing@haringey.gov.uk">licensing@haringey.gov.uk>
Cc: "lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org" a href="mailto:lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org">lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org>, "mail@davidlammy.co.uk" a href="mailto:mail@davidlammy.co.uk">mail@davidlammy.co.uk>
Subject: Objection: Paddy Power on Lordship Lane

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed Paddy Power betting shop taking over a former local pub on Lordship Lane, N22.

The cluster effect of betting shops is negative for the community for a myriad of reasons including encouraging anti-social behaviour, gambling addiction and draining the incomes of often the poorest people. There are already two betting shops in this short stretch of road, and it is absurd to allow another. I understand that current legislation makes it difficult for councils, communities and businesses to oppose betting shops. This leaves communities – the people who actually have to live next to them – powerless, angry and living with the outcomes. These outcomes include:

Increased litter as people, nearly always men, cluster outside betting shops smoking

Intimidation from men standing around in groups – I have been spat at and verbally abused at two betting shops on Wood Green High Street

Pushing other businesses – like cafes, bookshops, clothes shops, grocery stores, restaurants – all things that contribute to the communities that live there rather than detract from them

Increasing opportunities for gambling while cynically targeting the poorest areas

It is difficult, indeed impossible, to make a case for how granting Paddy Power a license would in any way enhance the local community or be a benefit to local people. It is easy to say however that legislation means we can’t do anything. It would be wonderful, and I think necessary, to see the council standing up to this, and other applications, and it is absolutely clear that we need legislation change so that betting shops are not given unfettered access to to feed off of our communities, not only in Wood Green but across the UK.

I note that Lynn Featherstone has made a stand against betting shops, however, I also understand that she voted against David Lammy’s amendment to the localism bills to change the use class of betting shops which would have make it much easier for local authorities to control them. Voting against this has had serious consequences for local people and absolutely undermines her stand against the proliferation of betting shops.

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Permalink Reply by Katie Tucker on March 13, 2014 at 11:51

Fantastic George - this is great will download and start plastering tomorrow/this weekend. Did you get good feedback from the local shops already on that strip of street? We really need them to object in writing don't we.

Have noticed that Catherine West has started a petition too. I have emailed her talking about the existing one and asked how she can help further with this matter.

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/haringey-council-licensing-c...

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Permalink Reply by ingo pless on March 13, 2014 at 16:57

FFS!!! But well done you lot to get onto it.

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Permalink Reply by Katie Tucker on March 13, 2014 at 22:00

Evening all,
I spoke to David Lammy's office today - his team are totally behind us and are launching local and national campaign against the betting shop. They will be at the pub tomorrow with local press for photos etc at 10.45/11am so if you can make it I will see you there. You might have noticed that they also started a petition through Labour MP candidate for Wood Green and Hornsey Catherine West - we will keep both running - they will both be subitted.
Think the main message is: sign the petition(s) and write in to the licensing authority.
George has already done great job talking to local shops - I will call in to see them tomorrow again and print out some standard letters for them to sign and I will take them in person to the licensing authority (lee valley) so we have more chance of local shops actually sending in objections.
Does anyone have any contacts at Noel Park School? I will talk to Alexandra Primary and Lordship tomorow to get head teachers to object formally too but don't really know anyone at Noel Park. I take my son to school (Alex Prim) every morning and so many kids have to go through that strip of shops twice a day.
David Lammy's assistant will try and make Sunday a Noel Park Market too.
No to Paddy Power!!!!
Katie