I will write to the Secretary of State when I have collected enough signatures to hand to him to demonstrate the level of opposition to further gambling establishments in my constituency and Harringay in particular.
The campaign is far from over, and I'll be sure to keep members of this forum updated with any further action.
I so agree with you Paul. I am also a resident of Green Lanes. Gambling is not illegal as is not Kebab shops (of which there are loads). I would rather see the premises occupied rather than left to fall into a state of dis-repair. I do not see a major threat to children from gamblers, nor indeed do they urinate or vomit on the streets, they never appear to be snorting class A's or indulging in violent activities. I have noticed on occasion that they leave nut and seed shells on the pavement, but what the hell street cleaners would rather sweep up these shells than blood and vomit. I really think that if someone wants to put 50p each way on the 3.30 at Haydock Park it is entirely up to them.
They're not though, they could do that on the internets. They're using the fixed odds betting machines. Losing their money to their addiction and committing crimes inside the shop.
Are we really so privelidged as to have nine kebab shops on Green Lanes? Yum.
Actually they do vomit and urinate. I have seen customers from metro bet do both on warham road. They also leave their beer cans on the window sill outside metro bet on warham road before entering the place. Sorry mate but you are wrong.
Local opposition to the number of betting shops along Green Lanes isn't a new thing. Why is it only now, after yet another shop has opened, that our MP is putting his weight behind a petition??
Well I suppose it is election year...
Interesting to hear about Mr Lammy's involvement in the 2005 Gambling Act though, thanks David, maybe he'd like to explain that to us here??
He has tended to vote the way the whips want him to which I'm certainly not going to hold against him. Nobody (well maybe someone) saw this as a consequence of the Gambling Act. Weren't we all worried about "super casinos" in Manchester?
Once upon a time, MPs were elected to represent the views of their constituents, not slavisly do the whips' bidding.
At the time the Act was being debated, many people forsaw the consequences, not least the Guardian and the Daily Mail, who both ran campaigns against it.
Nice to see Mr Lammy doing something on his OLD stomping ground , Must Be Wanting Votes !!!
Or is it he is worried about his election odds.
Dead Man Walking !!!
As an ex-gambler whose life was nearly ruined -no, scrub that -was ruined, I'd be happy if I never saw another one of those places again.
it's been 25 years since I last gambled but it is true to say that the more gambling shops that appear, the more I find myself thinking about it: however, it is also true to say I'm not tempted.
What does concern me is that already seasoned gamblers are surely under even more pressure with so many of those dreadful places around and that somehow it validates their addiction and reassures them that it's 'ok' to spend the second mortgage on the horses (I know of five men who've done this during my time at GA).
The effect it has on the young and displaced or alientated in some way is also monumental. Six of these places is a scandal. One per square mile is enough: trust me -gamblers would walk on fire to place their bets -by making it so easy for them it's only fuelling the fire of their destruction.