I have just read about the application for an adult gaming centre to fill the empty Dorothy Perkins shop.
Having worked in the town centre’s existing adult gaming centre – a euphemism for gambling, because that is what it is – can I just say to the planning and town councils do not believe the hype.
These places do not attract the well to do, Monaco-style high end rollers!
The companies wouldn’t put them in places like Spalding, Peterborough, or Boston if they did! Nor would they be 10p, £1/£2 slots.
Can I add that, even at those “prices” you can soon lose a lot of money.
Unfortunately the attraction is on the basis “I might win” so unemployed people place their benefits in the slots “just one more time” and lose.
Elderly ladies, yes even those, place their pensions at risk (in the slots) for a “free coffee” and company.
Hard earned wages go into the coffers of the company in charge and customers’ lifestyles can change, usually not for the better.
Of course some will win, possibly up to £500 however it rarely exceeds the money they have put in, perhaps not on that day, but prior to the win, because, generally no-one ever goes in “just the once.”
The only winner is the company.
Whether the civic society chooses to believe it or not, gambling can and does become addictive, to every walk of life.
Springfields can attract “names” because it’s clean, attractive and well maintained with good facilities. Spalding is not, and it will only get worse if you allow this application to go through.
W Kirk
Spalding
