The planning committee of the Birmingham City Council has given thumbs up to the plans for a new betting arcade in Erdington despite some claims that the establishment of such a venue could lead to more criminal activity.
Gambling company Cashino has filed an application to Birmingham City Council to give it permission to turn a pawnbrokers site on the high street of Erdington into an adult gaming centre. City councillors have now given the green light to the project with five votes “for”, three votes “against” and one abstain vote.
Previously, the leader of the Conservative group in the Council, Robert Alder, had said he was against the plans and cited concerns that the establishment of an adult gaming centre would lead to more criminal activity in the city and would deteriorate anti-social behaviour. Some residents of the suburb had also objected, saying that eight other gambling premises already existed within a radius of 200 metres of the site.
According to opponents of the adults gaming establishment, there has been considerable discussion regarding anti-social behaviour and crime that are usually attracted by such premises. They also shared that, in their opinion, the project is not very likely to add to the viability of the High Street.
However, Birmingham City Council’s planning committee had heard that details of noise insulation had been agreed as a condition of the project’s approval. Eventually, the committee gave its approval to planned adult gaming centre to add another gambling establishment to Erdington’s High Street.
Blackpool City Council Rejects Investment Plans Due to Concern for Gambling Participation Rates Increase
Cashino Gaming Ltd was, however, unlucky to get similar permission by the planning committee of Blackpool City Council. Earlier this week, the Committee decided to reject the application for a gaming centre plan filed by the gambling company amid concerns that such an establishment would lure more residents of the city into gambling.
The gambling operator had asked for permission to convert a former Coral betting shop into an adult gaming centre, with the project being recommended for approval by the town hall planning officers. The site on Abingdon Street is in very close proximity to an already existing arcade that is run by Warwicks Amusements. Warwicks’ gaming arcade was also rejected by Blackpool City Council but appealed the decision to the planning inspectorate that gave the project a go-ahead.
Warwicks Amusements, on the other hand, was one of the eight opponents that objected the Cashino Gambling, trading as Merkur Slots, which was also willing to operate a similar establishment in Cleveleys. According to several ventures that were against the Cashino’s project, the scheme for an adult gaming centre would result in an unacceptably high concentration of gaming centres in the area.
Cashino Gambling, however, argued that making an investment in such an establishment would bring a property that has been empty back to life, would create several new jobs and would offer games that differ from the ones offered by Warwicks Amusements. The members of the planning committee shared their concerns about the impact that such a gaming venue was aimed at inflicting on local residents. They took into consideration the belief that the kind of activity, which was sought to be offered by Cashino Gambling would target families with children, which was unacceptable.
- Author
Daniel Williams
