Council beats Paddy Power over Seven Sisters premises - Harringay online2024-03-29T05:43:41Zhttps://harringayonline.com/forum/topics/council-beats-paddy-power-over?feed=yes&xn_auth=noAs I see it Will, the betting…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-06:844301:Comment:1960422010-12-06T08:06:34.346ZClive Carterhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/CliveCarter
As I see it Will, the betting shop clustering especially in poorer areas has been caused wholly by <i><b>the Gambling Act (2005)</b></i>. What we now see on the High Street is the <i>symptom</i> of this legislation, which is highly permissive compared with what went before.<br></br>
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<b>First, the Act</b> *mandated* no control on the number of betting shops: this was something that was to be determined solely be the level of market demand (the demand test). Courts councils & communities…
As I see it Will, the betting shop clustering especially in poorer areas has been caused wholly by <i><b>the Gambling Act (2005)</b></i>. What we now see on the High Street is the <i>symptom</i> of this legislation, which is highly permissive compared with what went before.<br/>
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<b>First, the Act</b> *mandated* no control on the number of betting shops: this was something that was to be determined solely be the level of market demand (the demand test). Courts councils & communities would have practically no say. The Act directs liscengin authorities to "aim to permit" new gambling premises licence applications. Despite gambling's addictive aspects, the Act pretends that this is simply another form of commerce to be treated the same as if it were a greengrocers. Most betting shops now have more in common with casinos because of FOB-Ts<br/>
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<b>Second, the Act</b> permits up to 4 (four) <i>Fixed Odds Betting Terminals</i> (FOB-Ts) per licensing gambling premises. At first, the Bill was going to leave this uncontrolled as well. "These machines have been described as the crack cocaine of gambling. Just these four machines, about the size and shape of an oven with overhead grill, provide each betting shop with about half of its profits. Since there is a limit of four per shop, the incentive is to open new premises, even a short distance away, even though a whole new set of overheads is incurred. These machines are highly profitable and designed to suck money out of poorer communities.<br/>
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Thus, we have an "industry" with <i>abnormal levels of demand, <b>comparable to narcotics,</b></i> which can always pay top dollar for premises that come on the market in prime locations. Old Hackney Town Hall, and corner sites such as the former Burger King in Wood Green and the attempt on Body Music. I don't yet know what is happening to the Body Music premises, but it has been suggested that the would-be gambling operations would have been able to pay an annual rent of £36,000 – unable to be matched by any other kind of business in the area. I do not believe that rent controls are the answer, which has been suggested by some; gambling is not the kind of normal retail store as the Act and industry pretends.<br/>
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The proliferation is changing the character or our High Streets. It would be a mistake to compare betting shops with normal regular business, struggling or not, on any level. I too found these comments ir…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-04:844301:Comment:1958842010-12-04T13:36:33.660ZClive Carterhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/CliveCarter
I too found these comments irritating, but its important to remember that the decision was made strictly on planning grounds. The council had already awarded Paddy Power a gambling premises license, as they are all but obliged to, under the Gambling Act (2005).<br></br>
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The phenomena mentioned <i>could</i> be <i>considered</i> by a local authority licensing committee. But thanks to the overall thrust of the Gambling Act, there are virtually no (currently) lawful grounds that would enable a…
I too found these comments irritating, but its important to remember that the decision was made strictly on planning grounds. The council had already awarded Paddy Power a gambling premises license, as they are all but obliged to, under the Gambling Act (2005).<br/>
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The phenomena mentioned <i>could</i> be <i>considered</i> by a local authority licensing committee. But thanks to the overall thrust of the Gambling Act, there are virtually no (currently) lawful grounds that would enable a gambling premises licence Application to be refused.<br/>
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The [avoidance of] impact on vulnerable people (and children) is an object of the Gambling Act but, like the other objects, it is all but useless to Objectors in actual practice.<br/>
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When I made a submission to the Planning Inspector, I concentrated on the impact and <i>prominence</i> of the site and fortunately, the Inspector agreed.<br/>
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On Monday night at 19:30, BBC1 screens "Inside Out". The High Street – Betting Shops<br/>
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A 2' 29" video clip can be viewed <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wcq6h" target="_blank">here</a>.<br/>
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. Paragraph 13 is both interest…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-04:844301:Comment:1958792010-12-04T13:06:39.110ZAlan Stantonhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/AlanStanton
Paragraph 13 is both interesting and dismaying - especially the last sentence. This law needs amending. (Thanks, Clive, for taking the trouble to add these links.)<blockquote>"There is no evidence before me that the betting shop use would lead to noise, disturbance, anti-social behaviour or crime. The impact of gambling on vulnerable people is not a consideration which is material to a decision under the Planning Acts."</blockquote>
Paragraph 13 is both interesting and dismaying - especially the last sentence. This law needs amending. (Thanks, Clive, for taking the trouble to add these links.)<blockquote>"There is no evidence before me that the betting shop use would lead to noise, disturbance, anti-social behaviour or crime. The impact of gambling on vulnerable people is not a consideration which is material to a decision under the Planning Acts."</blockquote> THE Planning Inspectorate's D…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-04:844301:Comment:1958542010-12-04T09:54:21.339ZClive Carterhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/CliveCarter
THE Planning Inspectorate's Decisions (attached)
THE Planning Inspectorate's Decisions (attached) I think there was a strong ca…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-03:844301:Comment:1957802010-12-03T19:25:05.523ZClive Carterhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/CliveCarter
I think there was a strong case to deny PP their request for a <i>change of use</i>. It's important that everyone understand that this decision was made and was able to be made, on <i><b>planning</b></i> grounds and is relatively rare.<br></br>
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Normally the powerful gambling industry go after sites that are zoned financial (former banks etc.) so there is <i>no</i> change of use involved. Here, the site is a popular, long-time music shop, that would involve a change of use.<br></br>
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The…
I think there was a strong case to deny PP their request for a <i>change of use</i>. It's important that everyone understand that this decision was made and was able to be made, on <i><b>planning</b></i> grounds and is relatively rare.<br/>
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Normally the powerful gambling industry go after sites that are zoned financial (former banks etc.) so there is <i>no</i> change of use involved. Here, the site is a popular, long-time music shop, that would involve a change of use.<br/>
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The council had already awarded PP a gambling premises licence, which they are all but obliged to do under the pernicious <i>Gambling Act (2005).</i><br/>
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The opposition to the PP move was ably led by Douglas Williams of the <i>Find Your Voice</i> group. I made my own submission to the Planning Inspector which focused on the prominence of the location: conveying an impression of tackiness at a prime site, opposite the Seven Sisters Tube station, on a corner site by two important roads.<br/>
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Thanks for posting the good news, Hugh. Any idea what swung it for th…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-03:844301:Comment:1957712010-12-03T17:38:16.992ZHughhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/hjuk
Any idea what swung it for this one, Clive?
Any idea what swung it for this one, Clive? Good news. There's a related…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-03:844301:Comment:1957412010-12-03T16:25:50.166ZClive Carterhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/CliveCarter
Good news. There's a related programme scheduled to be broadcast on Monday: BBC1, 19:30 PM, Inside Out.
Good news. There's a related programme scheduled to be broadcast on Monday: BBC1, 19:30 PM, Inside Out. Another poor paddy victimised…tag:harringayonline.com,2010-12-03:844301:Comment:1957382010-12-03T16:09:00.529ZOld-Age-Emporium(OAE)https://harringayonline.com/profile/OldAgeEmporiumOAE
Another poor paddy victimised - makes me wonder why we stick around this ungrateful city.
Another poor paddy victimised - makes me wonder why we stick around this ungrateful city.