The Council’s decision to reject the establishment of a 24-hour adult gaming arcade in Blackburn’s town centre is taken to appeal by Merkur Cashino, the operator that has been willing to run the proposed arcade.
Earlier this year, the company filed an application seeking permission to turn the premises of an empty shop in Blackburn’s town centre into a venue offering low-stakes gambling and entertainment options such as bingo and slot machines. However, the City Council rejected the application and now Merkur Cashino has revealed that it intends to appeal the government inspector’s decision. It has also resubmitted its application for an adults gaming arcade establishment along with some extra evidence in an attempt to make the legal process shorter.
As explained by Blackburn’s Council, the application was rejected because the local authorities were concerned that the establishment of an adult gaming venue in the prominent and quite busy centre of the town would have inflicted considerable negative impact on the vitality and viability of the area. As explained in the rejection notice, an amusement arcade could trigger “substantial anti-social behaviours”, such as drinking, drug use and aggressive begging, to an already prominent part of Blackburn centre.
According to the council, the introduction of an adult gaming centre in Blackburn could target vulnerable individuals and is likely to result in a considerable increase in the gambling addiction rates in the town. It could also have a detrimental impact on the vitality of the main shopping area of the town centre.
Blackburn Council Believes Gaming Arcade Would Target Vulnerable Players
At the time it filed its original application for the adult gaming centre, Merkur Cashino explained that, if approved, the project would create six new jobs in the town. According to the plans unveiled by the operator in September, the entertainment arcade was set to be hosted on the ground floor of a three-storey building that was temporarily used by a clothing retailer.
As mentioned above, now the company has filed a new application, supporting it with further evidence that none of the projected negative impacts would be inflicted on the area. Merkur Cashino also provided a letter from the company’s agents Planning Potential, and documents proving three successful appeals of similar decisions against the company in Doncaster, Grantham and Kidderminster.
In a statement, Merkur Cashino officially revealed that it is in the process of appealing Blackburn council’s decision to reject the proposed project for an adult gaming centre. The agents of the company are now making an attempt to avoid a lengthy legal appeal process by resubmitting the application backed with the aforementioned evidence to support the proposed gaming arcade establishment. Merkur Cashino also revealed that it will withdraw its appeal in case its proposal’s resubmission gets the Council’s approval.
The company also reminded that its Gambling Licence was approved at the beginning of November, which is why it is considered as a suitable addition to the town centre’s area. Merkur Cashino made a promise that the addition of an adults gaming centre would strengthen the viability of this part of the town.
- Author
Olivia Cole
