A gambling venue operator has won an appeal against a decision by Enfield Council to block conversion of the former Lloyds Bank premises in Palmers Green into a 24-hour slot-machine gaming centre. A few days after this decision was published, it was revealed that the leader of Enfield Council was one of a number of politicians from across the country who recently called for reforms that would make it easier for local authorities to refuse gambling licences
Following the inspector's ruling, conversion of the former Lloyds bank premises in Green Lanes into a gambling venue will go aheadAs reported on the Enfield Dispatch website, council leader Ergin Erbil was a signatory of a letter sent last week calling on the government to urgently reform gambling laws that "fail to protect communities from harm”. The letter has been endorsed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Reform. Its demands include new powers for councils to refuse gambling licences and an update to the categorisation of gambling premises.
Also referring to the politicians' letter to the culture secretary, the ITV news website reports concerns that for some individuals B3 slot machines, found in adult gaming centres, act as a gateway to more addictive forms of gambling. The ITV report quotes gambling campaigner Will Prochaska as saying: "All of the council services that are stretched - things like homelessness services, the police, and mental health services - are now having to pick up the pieces of this industry making profit from their residents."
This latest call for legislative reform comes soon after the weakness of councils' current powers regarding controlling gambling was highlighted at a local level when an inspector appointed by the culture secretary overturned Enfield Council's earlier refusal of an application to convert the former Lloyds Bank premises at 369-371 Green Lanes into a Palace Amusements adult gaming centre (AGC). Like the nearby Merkur Slots gaming centre, which attracted much public opposition when it opened in 2021, the new addition to Palmers Green's high street is due to operate round the clock.
After receiving a petition signed by more than a thousand residents, the council decided in July last year to refuse planning permission on the basis that it “would lead to a clustering, intensification and over-concentration of betting and gambling uses in the immediate area” which “would be detrimental to the vitality, viability and character of the town centre”.
After the firm behind Palace Amusements lodged an appeal, a hearing was held in February, at which submissions were made by representatives of Palmers Green Action Team and Green Lanes Business Association; by Karl Brown, chair of the Palmers Green Ward Panel; and by Palmers Green councillor Doug Taylor. who all argued in opposition to the application.
In his ruling upholding the appeal, dated 26th March, the Inspector concludes that the Palmers Green District Centre is "healthy"; that after the opening of the Palace Amusements branch "gambling uses would still form only a modest part of the District Centre’s makeup"; and that "the effects of the proposal upon the health and vitality of the District Centre would be acceptable with no over-concentration of gambling uses in the area taking place." The cluster of gambling premises in Green Lanes - comprising Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, Merkur Slots and now Palace Amusements - would "not be unacceptably high". One factor that led the Inspector to this conclusion was that "there would be an even split of betting shops and AGCs, and thereby some diversity of the type of gambling uses".
Commenting on the Inspector's decision, Cara McDonagh from Palmers Green Action Team said:
"At the planning appeal hearing, representatives from Palmers Green Business Association, Palmers Green Action Team, Palmers Green Ward Panel and Cllr Doug Taylor spoke passionately on behalf of residents and businesses, highlighting concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour and the wider impacts of gambling. Yet, despite the strength of community opposition, the uncomfortable truth became clear: the council lacks real power. Expensive legal teams working for these businesses can exploit planning loopholes and use dubious ‘market research’ to justify their claims, all while ignoring the voices of the people who actually live here.
"It’s a frustrating and disheartening situation after all the work that local residents have done by submitting objections, first to the licence application and later to the appeal.
"We should not give up and will continue to support and champion the businesses that serve our community’s needs. Palmers Green will continue fighting to create a thriving, diverse, and profitable local economy that benefits everyone."
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