Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Council to research effects of Gambling Act
This from Haringey Council's Website:
Haringey Council is commissioning research on the effects of the Gambling Act 2005 and its impact on crime levels and on young and vulnerable people in specific areas.
The research will involve working with other councils and organisations detailing concerns about the current legislation.
This plan follows the Council Licensing Committee's rejection of two applications for new betting shops in Green Lanes by Metrobet Limited and Better, and of an Adult Gaming Centre by Frankice.
The Metrobet and Frankice decisions were recently overturned by the Highgate Magistrates in two of the first ever cases to go to appeal under the Gambling Act 2005, with high costs awarded against the Council on both appeals. The Licensing Committee has consequently elected not to contest an appeal by Better.
Said Cllr Nilgun Canver, Haringey Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities:
"Residents were extremely concerned and we were the one of the first councils in the country to fight a case at appeal. We will continue to try to protect our residents where we believe vulnerable people could be adversely affected or that significant crime will result from particular gambling establishments.
"This was a test case on the new law. Having looked closely at the outcome of the appeals, and taken expert legal advice, we are now looking at what more we need to do to effectively address the issues that our residents have raised.
"For the future, it is clear that we need the active support of partners including the police and health authorities and an active dialogue with the managers of gambling establishments to ensure that residents are not adversely affected by gambling."
Haringey Council is commissioning research on the effects of the Gambling Act 2005 and its impact on crime levels and on young and vulnerable people in specific areas.
The research will involve working with other councils and organisations detailing concerns about the current legislation.
This plan follows the Council Licensing Committee's rejection of two applications for new betting shops in Green Lanes by Metrobet Limited and Better, and of an Adult Gaming Centre by Frankice.
The Metrobet and Frankice decisions were recently overturned by the Highgate Magistrates in two of the first ever cases to go to appeal under the Gambling Act 2005, with high costs awarded against the Council on both appeals. The Licensing Committee has consequently elected not to contest an appeal by Better.
Said Cllr Nilgun Canver, Haringey Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities:
"Residents were extremely concerned and we were the one of the first councils in the country to fight a case at appeal. We will continue to try to protect our residents where we believe vulnerable people could be adversely affected or that significant crime will result from particular gambling establishments.
"This was a test case on the new law. Having looked closely at the outcome of the appeals, and taken expert legal advice, we are now looking at what more we need to do to effectively address the issues that our residents have raised.
"For the future, it is clear that we need the active support of partners including the police and health authorities and an active dialogue with the managers of gambling establishments to ensure that residents are not adversely affected by gambling."
Tags for Forum Posts: betting shops, gambling, green lanes, local ideas, third space
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by marc garrett on
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My main reason for not being happy in respect of gambling environments is, that there is yet another one on Green Lanes. It is not open yet, and I am sure some of you may be able to inform me whether it is gong to or not. Why can't we have a gallery there instead, something that does not have to be just about shopping or gambling, surely we as a culture share something more progressive or of value other than making money all of the time - or are we really that cheap?
marc
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I suspect that betting not necessarily the only motive behind the opening of new gambling venues - it may also have a lot to do with property ownership.
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Permalink Reply by BBU on
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Green Vegas?
Now all we need are some neon lights and a chapel, where celebrates can come and get married for a day.
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Permalink Reply by Eddie Finnegan on
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Well yes - anything to fill some of our empty Ladder chapels (he added controversially.)
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Permalink Reply by RuthE on
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I think these new betting shops are an absolute disaster for the area. You would think that with online gambling, there would be less need for all these 'offices' that are starting to dominate GLanes. I can only draw on the conclusion that these gambling places are cover ups for far more seedier crimes than having an innocent bet on the geegees. If you think about it, they are the perfect 'office' from which a 'business man' can meet his customers, keep an eye on the highstreet, and get rid of plenty of cash while keeping out of the rain keeping the high street betting world alive. A friend of mine worked in one at Turnpike lane she said that they also bet on animated races? Ridiculous. She said there were a lot of youngish men hanging around everyday exchanging wads of cash between them.
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Permalink Reply by Anette on
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Ruth, that's exactly what I've been thinking too. What could shut them down would be regular police raids, but they obviously can't do that without anything to back up their actions. Option 2 is to organise a residents "spy-group" who takes turns in foing in to these shops, and then report everything that looks slightly off so someone can take action. I guess that's an unrealistic approach, but certainly one I'd be up for trying!
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Permalink Reply by Lynne on
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Hi Hugh,
Cllr Canver has said that the Council has sought expert legal advice (hopefully from more than one Counsel), can this be made available in the public domain?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I was at the Green Lanes Strategy Group on Tuesday and they ran through it. The advice was taken from the original counsel, whose performance I doubted, but also from Philip Kolvin, whose material I forwarded to the Council prior to the the cases.
Apparently both were clear that the chances of winning an high court case were extremely slim. Essentially it's around not being able to provide enough evidence about the links between crime and betting shops on theh on hand and harm to vulnerable people and betting shops on the other.
I felt satisfied that they had taken good advice and acted reasonably and responsibily. It's the law that's the problem, not the Council.
I don't think there are plans to publish the guidance, but that's not to say you couldn't get hold of it.
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Hi Hugh,
I'm not sure that trying to challenge the opening of betting shops in the name crime is a truly genuine position to take really, although I can understand why this approach has been taken in a legal sense.
If only there was another way, in respect of making a case that takes note of the services introduced into communities beyond economical remits.
I personally feel that, we need stronger elements locally that connect people in ways that introduce and relate to qualities which are more wholesome that reach people at a deeper level, other than just business. Perhaps there needs to be a lobby group that encourages alternative solutions to the typical, drab and hegemonic mannerisms of such actions. I feel that much of what we are suffering from locally, is a lack of insight in how we could use our local spaces and environments more imaginatively...
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Couldn't agree more - hence the work I've been doing encouraging local politicians to back a genuine vision for the area in the form of a Local Charter (or whatever) - built by the community as a a whole. I got agreement in principle at the Green Lanes strategy Group last week (have been meaning to post about it) - but I think it'll take a while to get things moving.
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Hi Hugh,
It will be interesting to see how things evolve. I have fantasized for years about shopping areas where, amongst the shops the are also establishments that offer different services which are free, like a art galleries but offering different things. Encouraging people to meet and share activities, such as recycling technologies, or a physical space/place where you can leave messages and personal diaries, presentations about your own life and communities. I know...it's nuts!
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