South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes says proposals to open a 24-hour ‘adult gaming’ shop in Spalding town centre are “appalling.”
The Merkur Family company which runs businesses including Merkur slots have applied to South Holland District Council for change of use planning permission for the former Dorothy Perkins.
The application has led to a number of objections including from Sir John.
He said: “I object to a lot of aspects of it.
“There’s already a gaming centre opposite but it’s not open 24 hours.
“We’ve already got a bingo hall that’s reasonably run and is really well established,
“This is at the worst and most extreme end of gambling.
“Anyone who wants to gable at 2am or 4am by definition has a problem.
“We’re supposed to be attracting more business into the town but who is going to open a shop next to such a place that’s open all hours.
“Policing is also an issue. We’re constantly told that resources are low but with something that’s open 24-hours police will have to keep a constant eye on it as it’s right in the centre of town.”
In documentation with the planning application, Merkur says it will create “between six to 12 jobs.
The documents also include a list of comments from planning inspectors regarding applications around the country and particularly referencing the 24-hour opening hour aspects.
The documents state: “Our customer base after midnight is predominantly the local entertainment workforce and shift workers who like to relax after their busy shifts.”
It continues: “Patron surveys have been carried out on numerous sites that are operational. Some quotes from a recent operational/patron noise assessment undertaken on couple or small group and normal-level conversation was the only sound recorded, brief conversations at normal speech level with no shouting or otherwise anti-social behaviour.”
As well as the change of use application, South Holland District Council’s Licencing Committee are likely to have to give the go-ahead too.
