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25
Jul 2023
Councillors approve gambling arcade in Knaresborough despite addiction concerns
Councillors today approved a new gambling arcade opening on Knaresborough High Street despite hearing how the venue could exacerbate addiction during the cost-of-living crisis.
North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate & Knaresborough planning committee met this afternoon to discuss an application by Carl Bearman of Spectacular Bid Ltd to create an adult gaming centre inside the former Yorkshire Building Society building.
Adult gaming centres or arcades typically involve gambling for cash on machines that can include roulette, bingo or slots. Operators of arcades must have a licence from regulator the Gambling Commission.
Mr Bearman proposed the venue, which could have up to 35 machines, opens between 9am and 10pm for over-18s only.
With residential properties upstairs, he agreed a condition with the council whereby the machines would only operate at 25% their normal volume.
But Conservative councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge, Paul Haslam, queried what would happen if residents made a noise complaint to the council about the machines.
He said he knew of residents making complaints about barking dogs that had not been resolved by the council in over 18 months. Cllr Haslam said:
Harrogate-based Spectacular Bid Ltd was not represented at the meeting but council planning officer Stuart Mills responded to questions from councillors. Mr Mills said the council would be able to enforce against noise if the machines went higher than the agreed volume.
Liberal Democrat councillor for Knaresborough East, Hannah Gostlow, said she would be voting to refuse the application due to noise and its visual impact on the high street. Cllr Gostlow said:
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Liberal Democrat councillor for Knaresborough West, Matt Walker, was unable to attend the meeting so Cllr Gostlow read out a statement on his behalf.
Cllr Walker, who works in the NHS, referred to statistics by gambling charity GamCare about rising gambling addiction during the cost-of-living crisis.
His statement said:
However, despite saying he was “not a great fan” of gaming arcades, Conservative councillor for Boroughbridge and Claro, Robert Windass, said he felt there were no sound planning reasons to refuse the application, which was recommended for approval in an officer report.
This was echoed by Conservative councillor for Oatlands and Pannal, John Mann, who said:
Liberal Democrat councillor for Fairfax and Starbeck, Philip Broadbank, then suggested a condition is attached to reduce the hours the arcade closes from 10pm to 9pm, which was voted on and approved by four votes to two.
Councillors Mann, Windass, Haslam and Broadbank voted to approve with councillors Marsh and Gostlow voting against.
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