- Target:
- Planning Inspectorate and Lewisham Planning
- Region:
- United Kingdom
Betfred applied for a Betting License at 93-95 Deptford High Street, most recently the home of the Halifax. They got it (Feb 9th) because the Gambling Act 2005 disallows almost any kind of objection.
They then applied to Lewisham Planning for change of use since the present planning permission only covers Building Societies. Lewisham turned them down. This petition, then totalling 181 signatures, was submitted together with a paper petition, to form one of the 79 objections that were made to Betfred's application.
Betfred are now appealing the decision at the next level, the government's Planning Inspectorate. In their appeal, Betfred state:
"...the use of the unit as a licensed betting office rather than a bank/buiding society would not adversely affect the diversity of uses or the vitality and viability of the area. The proposed use will create a level of footfall similar to that of an A1 retail unit."
Except most retail units are not open in the evening encouraging drinking and begging outside on the pavement.
"...there is nothing to suggest the use of the premises as a betting shop would cause harm in terms of anti-social behaviour, crime or disturbance to neighbouring residents and other users of the town centre. This reason for refusal is based on a subjective view of the type of people that use betting shops. There is no evidence that customers visiting betting shops are any more likely to cause harm in terms of antisocial behaviour, crime or disturbance than any other use present along Deptford High Street."
Funny, then, that street drinking is only taking place outside betting shops and not other retail outlets...
See their original planning application online
They also applied to change the rear of the building, which they were granted.
If they win, Betfred will be the eighth bookies on the high street, and the sixth within a cluster of betting shops within a 150m stretch. Add the three round the corner in Evelyn Street and that's a total of eleven.
Make your objection known here, and if you have personal experience or a strong opinion, please leave a comment.
You are also invited to object in writing to the Planning Inspectorate by emailing:
teamp6@pins.gsi.gov.uk
Address your letter to Mrs Ruth Howell, quoting reference: APP/C5690/A/11/2151228/NWF
Deadline: THURSDAY 9 JUNE 2011.
For background reading go to:
MAY 2011 - BETFRED APPEAL
Betfred Appeal Planning Decision
MARCH 2011 - BETFRED REFUSED PLANNING PERMISSION
Betfred Planning Refused Planning Permission
FEBRUARY 2011 - BETFRED TRIES TO TAKE HALIFAX
Objections to Betfred Planning Application
JANUARY 2011 - BETFRED TRIES TO TAKE HALIFAX
Betfred Planning Application Deadline
Betfred Licence Hearing
Petition Parliament
10th Betting Shop
OCTOBER 2010 - PADDY POWER TAKES THE JOHN EVELYN
Paddy Power license granted
another Paddy Power
MAY 2010 - PADDY POWER TAKES THE DEPTFORD ARMS
Paddy Power Planning Applications
Paddy Power Deptford Arms
NATIONAL PETITION
Please also sign our sister petition to lobby government to change the 2005 Gambling Act:
Stop Betting Shops
We, the undersigned, object to the granting of Planning Permission to "Done Brothers trading as Betfred" for the premises at 93-95 Deptford High Street.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The No to Betfred in Deptford High Street petition to Planning Inspectorate and Lewisham Planning was written by deptfordhighstreet and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.