Concern as another new gambling business planned for city centre
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PLANS for a new gambling business in Bradford city centre have led to a councillor raising concerns over the amount of betting shops in the area.
Merkur Slots has recently applied for a licence to turn the former Leeds Building Society building on Bank Street into a “bingo premises” that would open from 9am to midnight.
If approved, it would become the latest betting business on the Landmark House block in the city centre.
The building, just yards from the city’s Citizen’s Advice offices, is already home to Admiral Casinos, William Hill, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes, with a Betfred bookmakers in the neighbouring Brown Muffs block.
When asked about the planned business, a MERKUR spokesperson said: “This is a new application and if successful we are looking forward to returning a vacant unit back to commercial use, ensuring it once again contributes to the local economy.
“The venue will create new jobs and represents much-needed high street investment at a challenging time. Our MERKUR Slots are where people come to enjoy a game of bingo and their favourite pastime.”
Earlier this year the company was granted permission to turn a former Coral bookmakers at the top of Ivegate into its first city centre branch.
In recent years Bradford Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee has reviewed gambling in the district.
It found that gambling businesses were often found in the most deprived areas of the district, and that current planning rules made it difficult for Councils to block the opening of such businesses.
Councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey) is one of the committee members who carried out the review.
He said in the case of the planned Merkur business, it was likely planning permission would not be required, as betting shops fell into the same planning use as banks and building societies.
Cllr Green said: “I’ve often pointed out the over preponderance of bookmakers and gambling establishments in our city centre and other parts of Bradford.
“But I also accept the Council’s hands are tied unless we get a change in legislation. The recent gambling reforms seem to have been shelved, which waters down the ability of local authorities like Bradford to limit these sort of businesses.
“But my biggest concern continues to be the lack of support that is given to those people whose lives are ruined by gambling.
“The greater concentration of these sort of establishments in an area leads to a greater possibility of people becoming addicted.”
