Bingo licence granted for town centre store that’s still subject to planning appeal

The creation of an adult gaming centre in the centre of Spalding has taken a step closer after the company that’s behind the bid was granted a bingo licence.

Merkur Slots Ltd has been granted a licence to operate the gambling machinery in the former Dorothy Perkins store in Hall Place by South Holland District Council’s Licencing Panel following a meeting today (Tuesday).

To go ahead however, the company still needs change of use planning application for the site. It was turned down by the district council’s Planning Committee in October, but Merkur has appealed the decision.

The meeting heard that the company had planned to open from 8am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, but a condition as part of the granting of the licence states the opening hours need to be 8am to midnight every day of the week.

Philip Kolvin QC, representing Merkur, also told the meeting there would be 61 gaming machines, 41 of ‘fruit machines’. and 20 ‘bingo tablets’.

For more on the decision see this week’s issue of the Spalding Voice out tomorrow (Tuesday).

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