MP’s anger at decision to approve a 24-hour gambling shop
THE decision to allow a 24-hour betting and bingo shop to open in Southport town centre has come under fire from the town’s MP.
Conservative MP Damien Moore said the proposed Cashino/Merkur Slots shop will “blight the lives of vulnerable people” as well as damage existing businesses.
The Germany-based Gauselmann group was granted a gambling licence to open in the former Money Shop on London Street, having previously secured planning permission to renovate the building in September. It will now be able to open its new facility across the ground floor and basement of the unit next door to an Oxfam charity shop.
The firm disputes its classification as a ‘betting shop’, instead describing itself as an ‘adult gaming centre’ (ACG). It says it does not use controversial Fixed Odds Betting Machines (FOBTs) and states that the average customer stake is just 30-40p, though does not make clear how many stakes are made in a typical visit.
But Mr Moore believes that allowing such a business to operate in the town is entirely wrong and says he will write to the Secretary of State to “express my contempt for this decision”.
He said: “We don’t want to see this type of shop coming into Southport.
“There is a danger that slot machine ventures like this could deter better types of businesses from coming to
Southport, as well as being bad for the local businesses which we have here already.
“This was entirely the wrong decision for our town.
“Southport’s businesses don’t want it here, local people don’t want it, and I certainly don’t want it.”
The MP added: “We have got the Covid situation at the moment and people will be feeling vulnerable for all sorts of reasons.
“The decision to allow this slot machine shop to open is very out of touch, it will blight the lives of vulnerable people in Southport, and it is neither needed nor wanted.”
Sefton Council approved the licensing application after more than an hour of discussions at a committee meeting and a spokesman defended its decision.
He said: “While we do have sympathy for the concerns of those who objected to the proposal, we are duty bound to assess every application on how it adheres to both national and local licensing legislation.
“We are satisfied that the applicants had sufficient knowledge and experience of the gambling licensing industry and legislation and furthermore we were encouraged by the applicants’ safeguarding measures and procedures outlined.
“Serious consideration was also given to the security measures and procedures presented and we are satisfied that they would be sufficient for these premises.”