Brent Council Wants Legislation to Curb the Rise in Gaming Venues
Some councilors in Brent, a London Borough in the United Kingdom (UK), have written an open letter to the UK’s Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, complaining that the approval of another gaming center in the area means there will be too many of this type of venue in the general vicinity.
Brent Council urges UK Government to address rise in local gaming venues.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Proposals for a new gaming site located in the Harlesden area of Brent have received planning permission for the project despite objections from a coalition of councillors and some members of the public.
The application was submitted by Silvertime Amusements Ltd and would add to the six gambling venues that exist in the area, including two gaming centers that Silvertime Amusements already operates in Harlesden. The other four sites are bookmaking shops operated by Ladbrokes who run two, William Hill and Paddy Power.
Some residents have argued that the number of gambling venues in the area is already too high and over-concentrated. They say this could have an adverse effect on the number of individuals at risk from gambling-related harm and those identified as vulnerable to gambling activities.
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Brent Council Urges Changes to Gambling Legislation
In details of the letter sent to Lisa Nandy, members of the council have outlined several changes they would like made to current legislation that would allow them to regulate the number of gambling venues in Local Authorities.
These reforms include the power of local authorities to reject planning applications on the basis of the welfare of the local residents in the community or to consider the levels of debt of residents in the vicinity of gambling outlets. Additionally, they would like local authorities to have greater control over the type and levels of gambling advertisements within their jurisdiction.
The communities we serve are experiencing firsthand the detrimental effects of unchecked gambling proliferation, and we must be empowered to act decisively to protect them. We welcome the Prime Minister’s aspiration that communities should be empowered to take back control over their own destinies and we believe this is a policy area where his aspiration can be made a reality.
The UK gambling framework is in the process of a range of legislative changes that are being considered to the region’s Gambling Act.The BGC welcomed Lisa Nandy as the Gambling Minister for the incoming UK Labour government when they were voted in earlier this year.
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