Outcry against Barnet gambling arcade (From Times Series)

Blogs

Read the latest from our team of bloggers »

Your news

Have you got a story to tell? Do you have pictures or video clips to share? Get in touch »

News RSS Feed

Outcry against Barnet gambling arcade

8:47am Thursday 8th May 2008

comment Comments (13) Have your say »

By Rebecca Lowe »

The proposed conversion of a Mothercare shop in Barnet town centre into an amusement and gaming arcade has sparked an angry outcry from residents.

Fifty-six of the 119 households consulted have formally objected to the proposal, which would transform 129 High Street into a centre housing a collection of fruit machines, arcade and gaming machines.

Barnet Society chairman Barry Blain urged Barnet Council to reject the application from Agora Gaming.

He said: "Certainly the view is that this is a retrograde step.

"It is the wrong sort of shop to bring to Barnet.

"Plus it's another nail in the coffin for the High Street, which already needs rejuvenating.

"Barnet Council should refuse this application. It is wholly inappropriate."

Strafford Road resident Eamonn Rafferty, 50, added: "A gaming centre is out of context with the area.

"Barnet High Street needs economic investment, but Barnet does not need, want or desire a shop like that."

Conservative Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers echoed residents' concerns.

She said: "It is worrying if shops are closing and being replaced by this kind of establishment.

"It is not the right direction for the High Street. There are all sorts of retail outlets that would be far more preferable."

An Agora Gaming spokesman said the company, which owns 130 gaming stores around the country, should not be confused with "low cost, tacky operators".

He added: "Agora is one of the largest gaming companies in the UK.

"It is professionally run, and is a very nice establishment and compliant with the regulations.

"We have no history of disorder with youths. Our main clientele are women.

"It's a very pleasant place, selling food and drink. Most shoppers tend to use our centres as a leisure facility."

He said the renovation budget would be around £500,000.

Visit the council's planning website to view the proposal in full.

The deadline for responses is May 14. The application will be heard by the council's planning committee at a date to be decided.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say Your Times

Fed Up, LBB says...
8:14pm Thu 8 May 08

I would recommend that those objecting save their time, life is too short. I went to a gambling licence hearing at Barnet magistrates court some years ago. I wished to object to a licence that was rushed through at Christmas time and put my case forward. The magistrates listened to all the pros and cons, and in my opinion there were far more cons than pros. Unfortunately when they returned from their deliberations the licence was granted without a problem. I would humbly suggest that there is some palm-greasing/backha
nding type behaviour afoot.

Report this post »

Hannah, Barnet says...
8:56pm Thu 8 May 08

Would people prefer an empty shop just waiting to be vandalised? Since when did we turn into a country where private enterprise was discouraged? As long as they adhere to the laws of the land they should be allowed to carry out their business. If people don't want it after all they just won't use it.

Report this post »

Tony Conophy, Arkley says...
9:21am Fri 9 May 08

There is already a serious gambling problem in this country which includes online gaming. I know someone who has become hooked and has recently had to sell his house to pay his debts. To add another similar establishment to provide more access to the addictive gambling habit is unfair to the young women that the proposed operator suggests use their establishments. The operator will give no concern to the personal stress that these yoing women suffer as they overspend in these establishments. The peoposal may also attract a rougher class of customer which will may lower the tone of the are and lead to disturbances later in the evenings. We do not need this gaming arcade!

quote

Report this post »

malcolm, Waggon Road says...
2:42pm Fri 9 May 08

Whilst I sympathise with "fed up lbb" I think implying magistrates take back handers etc is going too far.
When 1 person may object it is clearly that persons interest is at stake and not many others.
When 70% of those rsponding to the survey object it is clearly THE MAJORITY of those voting object and quite rightly so.
Do we want the High Street to become the cause of so much misery that happens when people who can't afford to gamble are given incentives such as free food and drink to do so?
ex magistrate

Report this post »

Craig, says...
2:44pm Fri 9 May 08

I don't see the problem myself, And what do you mean by "A rougher class of customer"?.. With all the pubs on the High Street it will make no difference to the noise or disturbance level.
I agree with Hannah if you don't like it then don't use it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course but i wish people would stop kicking up a fuss for no real reason!

Report this post »

Helen and Dave, Barnet Vale says...
3:02pm Fri 9 May 08

We oppose strongly - it will bring the High Street even more in to disrepute. Once the gaming centre opens there will be yobs, trouble and litter. We do not want to see people especially women gambling and it will be in full view of children walking past which we believe would be a temptation for when the get older. We have lived in Barnet since 1970s and have seen the decline in the High Street, dont kill it even more by allowing it to go ahead.

Report this post »

Harold, Barnet says...
4:09pm Fri 9 May 08

I'm completely opposed to having a Southend pier-style gambling arcade in Barnet High Street.

I'm also not that thrilled about small local businesses being forced to the wall on a daily basis by the likes of money-guzzling giants such as Tesco, thus further destroying the character of town centres like Barnet.

But, a matter of days after the local elections, here's a question for the voting public of Barnet (most of whom are probably just as opposed to the arcade as I am):

If you continually choose to elect bluer than blue capitalist Tories to seats of power locally, what the hell do you expect?

Hannah hit the nail on the head when she said 'since when did we turn into a country where private enterprise is discouraged?'

There speaks one of Thatcher's children.

People of Barnet, you reap what you sow I'm afraid...

PS: I'm not a Labour supporter either, before you start chucking insults.

Report this post »

Hanna Barbara, Three bedrooms pools and Jacusi says...
2:03pm Sat 10 May 08

You should get in touch with your local councillors: Purple haired odd lady will say something should be done and talk a lot; none odd haired lady will be content that the Purple haired councillor is doing it; the liberal will say something should be don, write a few letters and achieve nothing.

Basically it's going to get built regardless of what the locals say and do.

Report this post »

Hanna Barbarra, Three bedrooms pools and Jacusi says...
2:05pm Sat 10 May 08

Report this post »

sb, barnet says...
11:07pm Sat 10 May 08

Barnet high street is already in decline- with the loss of many good shops, loads of empty shops remain. We need to get something in those shops that the whole community can benefit from, not a small minority.

The local safer neighbourhood police team have been doing a great job in making the high street a safer place. we do not need a gaming arcade for over 18's to encourage the youngsters to start gambling (do you really think ID will be checked - like some of the local grocery shops with off licences do???!!)

those people losing money in these arcades (which is how the arcades make their money) will come out on to the street and try and find ways of getting more money to feed their addiction. possible robbings, burglaries shoplifting etc may happen.

Is this really what we need in the high street?

No - we need family orientated shops and family social centres not something bad like this. if you want to gamble, go to a casino in town or to the seaside!!

This application has been kept very hush hush, and we only have till wednesday to appeal.

Please make sure you have your say

Report this post »

Hayley Lehmann, Arkley says...
11:23pm Sun 11 May 08

I object to the application for a gambling arcade in High Street Barnet. Why is it that Barnet High street which is surrounded by affluent areas like Hadley Wood & Arkley has such a drab and downmarket High Street, unlike Mill Hill and Stanmore? The planners have killed off the High Street with poor parking policies such as only providing plentiful parking 5 minutes walk away at the rear of the Spires.

Report this post »

Fed Up, LBB says...
11:32pm Mon 12 May 08

sb wrote:
Barnet high street is already in decline- with the loss of many good shops, loads of empty shops remain. We need to get something in those shops that the whole community can benefit from, not a small minority. The local safer neighbourhood police team have been doing a great job in making the high street a safer place. we do not need a gaming arcade for over 18's to encourage the youngsters to start gambling (do you really think ID will be checked - like some of the local grocery shops with off licences do???!!) those people losing money in these arcades (which is how the arcades make their money) will come out on to the street and try and find ways of getting more money to feed their addiction. possible robbings, burglaries shoplifting etc may happen. Is this really what we need in the high street? No - we need family orientated shops and family social centres not something bad like this. if you want to gamble, go to a casino in town or to the seaside!! This application has been kept very hush hush, and we only have till wednesday to appeal. Please make sure you have your say

You say that the application has been kept 'hush hush'. I stand by my original post, no offence to Malcolm.

Report this post »

Rog T, Mill Hill says...
12:30pm Wed 14 May 08

Hayley Lehman,

Mill Hill has issues like this as well. An Italian restaurant in the Broadway was recently replaced by a bookies, despite many objections.

What we need is a robust plan from the council to protect town centres. Having said that I suspect that the comments about the magistrates and the backhanders are unfair. The magistrates can only operate within the boundaries of the law. Something may be undesirable but unless it is illegal or contravenes the licensing rules it will be passed. The operators of these undesirable businesses employ specialst lawyers who know how to play the game. Mill Hill has been plagued by dodgy developments where planning loopholes and endless appeals are used to get them through. We've lost many fine shops (eg Maxwells art shop). I can't believe that there isn't more the council could do.

Report this post »

Your sayYour Times

comment Add your comment

Register for a FREE Times Series account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

Please register now or sign in below to continue.