Bedford borough councillors have approved plans for a new adult gaming centre after hearing concerns about gambling harm, crime, deprivation and the potential impact on vulnerable residents.
A Gambling Act licensing sub-committee on Thursday (May 28) granted a premises licence to Future Leisure Limited for 19 Silver Street, subject to conditions aimed at protecting children and vulnerable people.
However, councillors were reminded that under the Gambling Act 2005, they must “aim to permit” gambling where applications are consistent with the licensing objectives and that concerns should be addressed through conditions where possible.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, licensing consultant Andrew Woods said the business had extensive experience operating adult gaming centres and had strengthened its proposals in response to consultation.
“The family do not want any of the concerns that have been referred to, to come to fruition in their premises and will work very hard to ensure that that doesn’t happen,” he told the meeting.
Read: Backlash against proposed all-night gambling venue in Bedford town centre
Customers monitored
Mr Woods said the company had voluntarily offered a package of conditions, including Challenge 25 age checks, CCTV, incident logging, a controlled entry system and a commitment to have two staff on duty at all times.
The sub-committee was told that customers would be monitored from the moment they entered the premises and that staff received regular training to identify signs of vulnerability and gambling-related harm.
Anna Zietkiewicz, the company’s head of compliance, said staff were trained to identify behavioural changes and intervene where necessary.
“Support services are offered, but if the customer is getting worse, we do give them a ban them,” she said.
Reverend Anthony Davis, St Paul’s Church, referred to the church’s written response.
This included, “Our objection is based primarily on the licensing objective of protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling, and also raises concerns relating to crime, disorder, and the wider social environment of the town centre.”
Police “significant concerns”
Bedfordshire Police said it had “significant concerns” that the granting of this licence would undermine the licensing objective of crime and disorder.
PC Elliott said: “The location… is situated within an area that has experienced notable levels of anti-social behaviour, low-level acquisitive crime and incidents associated with vulnerable individuals who may be at risk of exploitation or involved in criminal activity.
“There is concern that the introduction of a 24-hour Adult Gaming Centre may exacerbate existing issues and increase further opportunities for crime and disorder.”
The proposed venue would operate as an adult gaming centre, meaning under-18s would not be permitted to enter and gaming machine stakes would be restricted by law.
Objectors argued the site was located close to services used by vulnerable people and raised concerns about deprivation, homelessness, anti-social behaviour and the cumulative impact of gambling facilities in the town centre.
But the applicant argued there was no evidence that its existing venues had caused the harms feared by opponents.
“None of the concerns or beliefs that have been expressed in the representations occur at any of our shops,” Mr Woods said.
The decision notice said the sub-committee welcomed the applicant’s commitment to work in partnership with the Responsible Authorities and organisations supporting vulnerable people in the area.
Any party to the sub-committee hearing has a right of appeal against the above Gambling Act 2005 decision to the Magistrates Court within 21 days of the publication of the decision notice.
The decision relates only to the gambling premises licence. Any planning permission required for the use would be considered separately.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
