The plans for building an arcade and adult gambling centre in Monmouth, Wales, have been met with strong opposition on behalf of the local community. The Monmouthshire County Council has received over 200 objections to building the centre along with a petition with 419 signatures from residents. The property in question was previously occupied by a DS Music shop and has recently gained a gaming license approval from the Monmouthshire County Council.
The license application was filed by Mr. Henry Danter who owns the Barry Island Pleasure Park and is confident an adult gaming venue could help bolster the town centre. However, the Monmouth community is of a different opinion, with many locals expressing concerns about gambling’s potentially harmful effects on young people and their mental health.
Some Monmouth residents who oppose the centre have gone as far as calling it “a blight on the town” in their objections. Others fear a gambling premise would trigger problematic behaviour and result in financial issues for residents who already struggle to control their gambling due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Many locals expressed concerns about the chosen location of the gambling premise, which would sit opposite to the historic Agincourt Square in Monmouth. Representatives of the local Haberdasher’ Monmouth School for Girls and the Monmouth Comprehensive School also oppose the gambling centre. Haberdashers’ principal Mr. James Murphy O’Connor filed a joint objection with Mr. Hugo Hutchison, a headteacher at Monmouth Comprehensive School.
Mr. Hutchison and Mr. O’Connor raised concerns a gambling center on Monmouth’s high street might threaten the wellbeing of the local pupils. They fear this would lead to the normalisation of slot-machine gambling just as Monmouth pupils are encouraged to walk or ride bicycles to their schools as part of the community sustainability goals.
Locals Fear an Increase in Gambling Problems among Youngsters
The majority of the two schools’ parent bodies are raising similar concerns. The locals fear the Monmouth community could see an increase in gambling problems among youngsters who are “particularly susceptible and impressionable”. The petition signed by 419 residents echoes the concerns to the formal objections. It claims an arcade and gambling centre could severely damage the reputation of the town as a tourist and shopping destination.
Not everyone opposes the idea of building the 18-and-over gambling centre, however. Some Monmouth residents have submitted comments to the Monmouthshire County Council speaking in support of the idea. They believe adults should have a choice whether to gamble in the centre or not. Another proponent described the centre as “fun” for the city of Monmouth.
Mr. Danter has been in the amusement arcade business since the 1960s and has previously promised to ensure no customers under the age of 21 would be allowed to enter the premises. The Monmouthshire County Council’s planning department is yet to decide on Mr. Danter’s planning application.
- Author
Daniel Williams
