A bingo premises licence has been approved for a former bank building in Barnet -- but the key decision has yet to be taken on whether Barnet Council will give planning permission for an adult gaming centre in the High Street.
Opponents of the plan tried without success to persuade the council’s licensing sub-committee to delay its decision on the bingo licence until after a planning committee meeting to consider whether to allow a change of use of what was formerly a branch of the Trustee Savings Bank.
Local objectors hope to express their opposition to the proposal to install gaming machines in the High Street at a planning committee meeting, possibly in November.
After 666 objections were registered by the original deadline in July, a full hearing was promised and there were a further 100 objections during an extended period of consultation.
The Barnet Society was the only objector when the application for the bingo licence was heard by the licensing sub-committee (25.10.2022).
Nick Saul, who spoke for the society, and who was disappointed by the decision, believes that a far stronger case can be presented on planning grounds.
Under the local plan for Barnet, gambling places are prohibited within 400 metres of a school – and the argument will be that the nearby Barnet and Southgate College falls within this limit and that young students need protecting and should not be enticed into gaming centres.
A previous attempt in 2008 by Agora to open a High Street gaming centre in the former Mothercare shop was refused and local community organisations including the society, Barnet Residents Association and the Chipping Barnet Town Team say this precedent should be respected.
At the licensing sub-committee hearing, Mr Saul argued that a decision on the possible change of use of the building from what had been a TSB branch should have been taken first.
But council officials assured the society that the granting of a bingo licence under the Gambling Act would not influence the outcome of the planning application.
Merkur Slots, which already operates an adult gaming centre in Ballards Lane, Finchley, has applied for permission to convert the ground floor of the building.
The former bank was once the offices and printing works of the Cowing family, who published the former Barnet Press weekly newspaper.
Merkur Slots’ argument in favour of the bingo licence was that another three have already been agreed across the borough and that the Metropolitan Police made no objection to an adult gaming centre in Barnet High Street.
So far, the company has established 220 adult gaming centres across the country, each with as many as 50 gaming machines which offer winnings of up to £500 for stakes of a minimum of £2.
Because of the strength of the opposition, Merkur Slots was asked by the council to outline its security measures and the steps taken to protect young people from the impact of 24-hour gaming.
It said its adult gaming centres admit only over-18s and staff adopt a “Think 25” policy challenging anyone who appears to be under 25.
