May 2007 News
Hackney vs the Bookies
Residents fighting to stop a third betting shop opening up in their street have been backed by Mayor Jules Pipe.
The battle is emblematic of a struggle going on across the borough to halt the growing increase in bookies – Hackney already has nearly five times the national average.
Local people took on Essex gambling firm Pridmore, who were seeking a license to open a betting shop in Chatsworth Road, Lower Clapton.
Despite hundreds of residents saying no to a third bookies, and supportive statements from Mayor Pipe, Hackney South MP, Meg Hillier, and the headteacher of neighbouring Rushmore School, the license was granted by Thames Magistrates’ Court on 11 May.
However, campaigners are unbowed and have vowed to fight on, taking legal advice on an appeal against the Decision.
Mayor Pipe has written to the Government asking it to look again at planning law in order to make it easier for councils to control the spread of betting shops in their local areas.
He said: “Hackney has 95 betting shops already. The national average for an area is only 20.
“Local people are sick of seeing them spring up on every street corner, and are beginning to fight back.
“Betting shops can have a negative effect on the character of an area, but at the moment councils have very limited powers to say no.”
The Mayor added: “The residents of the Chatsworth Rd area have worked very hard to protect their local high street and everyone involved is disappointed by the magistrates’ decision.
“I will continue to support their fight if they decide to take the case to appeal. In the meantime I will keep talking to the Government about changing the law to give councils more power to respond to local communities’ wishes.”
Clapton resident Nick Mathiason, who has led the campaign, said: “If people want to gamble, we don’t have a problem with that, but Chatsworth Rd already has two bookies’.
“We don’t want another one, especially so near a primary school, as they often attract anti-social behaviour. People here are shocked and disappointed at how our collective voices were undermined and ignored by the court.”
The Mayor has also slammed plans to turn Hackney’s 19th century Old Town Hall on Mare St, formerly home to HSBC bank, into another betting shop.
He said: “Planning law means the Old Town Hall can be changed from a bank to a bookmaker’s without having to ask for planning permission. There is nothing the Council can do about it.”
Local authorities will take on licensing powers over betting shops from magistrates later this month. However, these powers are too limited to give councils any real control over the problem.
Page updated: 25 May 2007