Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
More Bad News on Green Lanes Betting Shops
The Licensing Committee has granted permission for a premises licence for Betfred (next to the Post Office). One slender hope remains in the form of a possible refusal from the Planning Inspectorate for planning permission, whose decision is still awaited, but with the licence now granted, the scales are tipped further against us.
What all this means, which of course we already knew, is that it is impossible to prevent an unlimited number of betting shops opening in our community.
What all this means, which of course we already knew, is that it is impossible to prevent an unlimited number of betting shops opening in our community.
Tags for Forum Posts: 513 Green Lanes, betting shops, gambling, green lanes
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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I can not only think of the reason why the council would allow so many [betting] shops to open on Green Lanes, I know the reason. It seems to be a hard message to get through.
The majority of councillors likely do not want to see so many betting shops in Green Lanes (I think there are now 8 (eight), four clustered around the post office and a building society). But the council's hands are tied by the previous government's Gambling Act (2005) that gave the gambling industry everything they wanted:
• most morality stripped from the Act. It is not lawful to object on grounds of morality
• a market-led approach. The only thing that could say there are too many betting shops would be the market: not courts, councils or communities
• gambling to be treated as simply another kind of retail activity (despite its addictive qualities). The issuing of Gambling Premises Licences (by Licensing Authorities) was to become a formality.
The Gambling Act of Parliament is a Charter for the gambling industry.
Councils are not to blame for this situation. The New Labour Government was to blame. The Act dramatically curtailed the grounds on which residents could object to new gambling premises licenses, but many members of the public haven't caught up with this yet. That is why explaining this repeatedly to the general public has become of matter of intense frustration to some of Haringey's Licensing Authority staff.
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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
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Murat, even if all 57 Councillors individually and the Council in solemn conclave oppose these, they are powerless to reverse the inevitable effects of David Lammy's/David&EdMiliband's/Ed Balls' Government's Casinos & Street Brothels Act - just as they were powerless to stop the arrival of my near neighbour, London Concrete.
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Murat, I see Clive's grasp of the 2005 Act details is as usual more reliable than mine. Still, we're in broad agreement that no amount of Area Assembly handwringing by Gina, Nilgun, David, Karen (or even Alan) is going to reduce our betting empires by even one one-armed bandit.
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Permalink Reply by HoL Site Admin on
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Speaking of which, have just published details of our next Area Assembly on Tuesday here, SNT and local councillors on hand to discuss any problems in the area. If you don't like the agenda set by the AAs, perhaps its time to reset them to tackle some of the problems highlighted above. Look forward to seeing you all there, I'll be the one with a big green circle for a head.
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Welcome return of AA to SHS Mattison (and Chestnut). For this relief, much thanks!
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Folks, you must learn to go with the flow.
For nearly four decades I've supported Nationwide with my monthly savings, once believing faithfully in Building Societies, Co-ops, Credit Unions and the like. Now that Nationwide has doubly abandoned me (a) by expecting me to trek to Wood Green or Crouch End, (b) by cutting my annual interest rate to 0.2% without warning, I have found the obvious solution:
I continue to frequent the former Nationwide premises, daily now rather than monthly as heretofore. Messrs BetFred have already increased my return by multiples of 50 - 100 over the recent Nationwide rate. I have no reason to view them as other than my local Mutual Co-operative & Friendly Society for the coming four decades at least. They deserve our fullest support so I've already proposed that, in addition to their present metro branch, they open a SuperFred at the shortlived Keatons and an ExpressFred at the currently closing Pound Shop.
The alternative, of course, is to extend this thread through another ten pages of wishful bellyaching, imaginary protests, piss & wind.
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Permalink Reply by Ruth on
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Yep, Nationwide abandoned us didnt they. On the general decline of the area, we've had this discussion before in other blogs.
My latest 'beef' is the amount of beggars congregating around the Barclays cash point corner of my street. Yesterday was accosted 3 times in one trip out to get milk and veg. Very annoying, as if I believe they really want a pound for the phone or a cup of tea.
Not sure they have anything to do with the betting shops. They have just decided its so busy and crowded round there no-one will notice?
Should we find some sort of latter day Kray brothers to impose some law and order then? Methinks not... Turkish, Kurdish or English thugs are just that, thugs.
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Can I suggest if you feel unsafe or have issues with beggars etc you speak to the Safer Neighbourhoods Team who regularly monitor our part of Green Lanes. Yes they do, if you don't see them, its because you missed them!
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thanks, I must have missed them, then. Maybe they dont work on Bank Holidays. I dont feel unsafe just damned annoyed at having people ask me for money all the time and who help to block the already congested pavements around there.
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Permalink Reply by Protheroe O'Shea on
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Wonderful. OAE you get my award for post of the year. :)
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Ta, TW. Your original proposal of a protest outside BetFredNationwide was a good one. What always amuses me here is how the mobile vulgus works up an almighty head of steam over a day's posting, draws breath for three or six months, returns to the fray briefly, dissipates its energy and purpose like a spent hurricane (while the object of their ire gets quietly down to business), ends up worrying about a single harmless pavement-squatting beggar, or wondering whether Harringay GL is Upper Street or a shithole. Ho-effing-hum!
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Couldn't agree more! Still HOL aint too bad.
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