Michael Donnelly,
PlanningResource,
11 August 2009
The London Borough of Hackney has applied to the government for stronger powers to control the concentration of betting shops in the borough.
There are more than 60 bookmakers in Hackney, which is over three times the local authority average.
Hackney has applied under the round of Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) bids which closed on 31 July.
Of more than 500 local people responding through Hackney’s consultation e-panel, 64% supported the idea that the Council could get new powers to limit the concentration of betting shops.
Hackney’s Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission also held a public meeting in June to discuss the matter further, and invited representations not only from local residents, but also from bookmakers themselves.
Jules Pipe, mayor of Hackney, said: "Residents have told us they are concerned that concentrations of these shops are dominating the character of their local area and have asked us to reduce the impact this can have, particularly on some of society's most vulnerable members.
"We have applied for stronger powers through the Sustainable Communities Act because residents cannot understand why we are prevented from meeting their needs in this matter, in line with the Government's place-shaping agenda for councils."
The Council has also written to the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to highlight the fact that the Gambling Act 2005 gives local authorities limited defence against unreasonable proliferation of betting shops.
michael.donnelly@haymarket.com
