Council approves new betting shop plan

Scarborough Council has given the go-ahead for an empty property in central Scarborough to be transformed into a betting shop.

Located in the designated town centre of Scarborough on 46 Westborough, the former retail unit is in a fourstorey mixed-use terrace building.

Approved by Scarborough Council on Friday September 2, the development relates exclusively to the ground floor of the site.

Submitted by Mr Paul Kirby on behalf of Jade Leisure, the plans suggest that the betting shop will be run as part of the Star Sports franchise.

The site’s permitted opening hours will be MondaySaturday from 8am to 11pm, while on Sundays and Bank Holidays the opening hours would be from 9am to 8pm.

This will increase the number of betting shops on Westborough to at least three.

Though no objections were made by the Highway Authority or by North Yorkshire Police’s crime officer, the council did receive three comments from members of the public largely opposing the plans.

Members of the public commented on the “loss of a retail unit” and raised concerns that the “proposal would not result in an active shop front” as well as fears about an “impact on anti-social behaviour”.

The council’s planning officers “acknowledged” the concern raised about an “accumulation” of gambling premises but said: “it is the officer’s opinion that the proposal in place of a vacant unit will contribute to maintaining the diverse economic mix within the town centre, particularly given the increasing impact of online sales on the retail market.”