A street full of betting shops could be coming to Brighton

4:10pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News By Neil Vowles

A street full of betting shops could be coming A street full of betting shops could be coming

Residents and traders are worried that betting shops are taking over a major shopping street.

Concerns have been raised about the prospect of four bookmakers all within a few hundred yards in George Street, Hove.

William Hill and Ladbrokes already own shops in the key Hove shopping street and applications have now been submitted by Paddy Power and Coral.

Residents have raised concerns that if the applications were given the go-ahead, it would turn George Street into a corner of cheap booze and easy betting.

Paddy Power has applied for a gambling licence to take over the Lion D’Or bar and has also submitted two planning applications this week to install a new shop front, air conditioning units and satellite dishes.

The bar has been on the market for a year and could close as early as March if Paddy Power is successful with their application.

Coral also submitted a planning application last month for a new shop front, air conditioning units and satellite dishes for the former Santander bank branch.

Valerie Paynter, of Save Hove conservation group, described betting shops as ‘gambling joints’ which ‘draw on human weakness and desperation’.

Alan Moon, founder of the George Street Traders’ Association and owner of Cocoon Knits in George Street, said: “I think it’s the wrong direction for the street to take.

“We are trying to promote George Street in a more positive way and the only way we can do it is as a retail, pedestrianised area and if we are going away from that then we are losing ground.”

A Coral spokesman said: “Betting shops are an important part of the retail mix on high streets, generating footfall, paying taxes, creating jobs and they generate more footfall than other similar sized outlets apart from post offices and pharmacies.

“Bookmakers are one of the most regulated retailers on the high street and we want to attract a wide spectrum of customers to our stores, and can only do this by offering them a safe and responsible experience.”

Andrew Wealls, Conservative councillor for Central Hove, said: “Unfortunately there isn’t much the council can do in this instance, because the premises already have planning permission for this type of business.”

Christopher Hawtree, Green councillor for Central Hove and planning committee chair, bemoaned current planning legislation that classified betting shops in the same use- class as banks.

He added: “Despite this, I have been much encouraged by recent work with the street’s traders which led to a Christmas parade and I am regularly discussing further ideas with them.”

Comments(34)

wexler53 says...
3:14pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Apparently, George St demonstrates the success of pedestrianised streets. Should be a good model for the Lanes...

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wild berry says...
4:29pm Wed 16 Jan 13

I have never seen a person smiling as they leave a betting shop......One or two scattered about is fine......but several close together is a bad idea.
Cant help but notice that one of the betting shops already open in George Street is next door to a pawn brokers , and also a cheap booze hall.....Weatherspoo
ns .....Coincidence??..
.trading on a certain lifestyle , I reckon.....And please dont ruin a lovely community type street like George street any further.

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Beethoven says...
4:32pm Wed 16 Jan 13

"current planning legislation that classified betting shops in the same use- class as banks."

Maybe this is the real culprit... We are seeing nationally so many problems with normal retail chains that it is no surprise that they are not expanding or opening new branches.

Perhaps our government should re think this part of the planning law

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s&k says...
4:37pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Tragic

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Dealing with idiots says...
4:51pm Wed 16 Jan 13

There will soon be a space available for an extra betting shop on Western Rd Hove. Formerly a shop that did well for 25 years until the loading times were changed with laughable 'consultation' under the Greens. Suddenly no early morning trade for this newsagent. Down to you councilor Davey. Are you going to pay this chaps mortgage? No thought not, you couldn't even run a bike charity successfully without a subsidy from local taxpayers.

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Glenda says...
4:51pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Santander lost me more money than I have ever lost to a bookie. Took months to get my £20,000 back. I would be happier walking out of a bookies. Shame we have to lose Lion D'Or to a bookies though. They could combine the 2 if they changed the regs. I am for the Bookies myself.Brighton & Hove has a gambling and drinking heritage (Brighton Rock) with its knocker boys and wide boys. Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street.

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Grumpy0ldman says...
4:55pm Wed 16 Jan 13

10 to 1 this doesn't happen

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Grumpy0ldman says...
4:55pm Wed 16 Jan 13

10 to 1 this doesn't happen

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jamus77 says...
4:58pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Dealing with idiots wrote:
There will soon be a space available for an extra betting shop on Western Rd Hove. Formerly a shop that did well for 25 years until the loading times were changed with laughable 'consultation' under the Greens. Suddenly no early morning trade for this newsagent. Down to you councilor Davey. Are you going to pay this chaps mortgage? No thought not, you couldn't even run a bike charity successfully without a subsidy from local taxpayers.
Of course, it's all the Green Party's fault.

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jamus77 says...
5:00pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Glenda wrote:
Santander lost me more money than I have ever lost to a bookie. Took months to get my £20,000 back. I would be happier walking out of a bookies. Shame we have to lose Lion D'Or to a bookies though. They could combine the 2 if they changed the regs. I am for the Bookies myself.Brighton & Hove has a gambling and drinking heritage (Brighton Rock) with its knocker boys and wide boys. Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street.
"Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street," - you'd rather it was full of drunken, gambling addicts?

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bug eye says...
5:11pm Wed 16 Jan 13

No one has mentioned that there are also 2 drinking establishments in the same vicinity so it will be a booze and gambling fest. this area particularly the graveyard is already a wash with street drinkers and homeless what a tragedy if this street goes this way. I shop there regularly and it was on the up with some individual shops such as Berts homestore, doggie fashion etc. I would urge the council and authorities and the people we have elected not to let George st. take the wrong direction, for the sake of the community and the traders who have worked so hard to bring it up. this is not a good example for children and will also spoil the popular street market. councillor hawtrees silly comment about a parade is folly when this is a serious issue, not a lark.

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Dealing with idiots says...
5:18pm Wed 16 Jan 13

jamus77 wrote:
Dealing with idiots wrote: There will soon be a space available for an extra betting shop on Western Rd Hove. Formerly a shop that did well for 25 years until the loading times were changed with laughable 'consultation' under the Greens. Suddenly no early morning trade for this newsagent. Down to you councilor Davey. Are you going to pay this chaps mortgage? No thought not, you couldn't even run a bike charity successfully without a subsidy from local taxpayers.
Of course, it's all the Green Party's fault.
The Conservatives tried the same change when they were in power but actually grew a brain when they realised it would damage local business. Greens driven by dogma rather than experience brought it in and this is the consequence. I don't attach blame where it is not due only to the guilty.

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Glenda says...
5:23pm Wed 16 Jan 13

jamus77 wrote:
Glenda wrote:
Santander lost me more money than I have ever lost to a bookie. Took months to get my £20,000 back. I would be happier walking out of a bookies. Shame we have to lose Lion D'Or to a bookies though. They could combine the 2 if they changed the regs. I am for the Bookies myself.Brighton & Hove has a gambling and drinking heritage (Brighton Rock) with its knocker boys and wide boys. Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street.
"Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street," - you'd rather it was full of drunken, gambling addicts?
You seem unable to understand my prose. In simple terms , for you, YES.
I would like to say that we are not all addicts either. Furthermore most of are not subsidised by child benefit payments.

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spa301 says...
5:40pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Having lived parallel to George Street for the past 5 years I have noticed only too well it's gradual decline to where it is now.
I would prefer the yummie mummies over the pissheads and losers anyday.

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bug eye says...
7:06pm Wed 16 Jan 13

there must be a policy that deals with demand, there cannot be demand for 4 gambling establishments within 50 yards along a small shopping street, does anybody know. 1 betting shop is clearly acceptable but surely there is not enough business for 4 betting shops. surely the licensing committee can and will refuse a license on these grounds. I for one will not use George st. to be abused by drunks and desperate druggy gamblers and it may end up like the london road. this is very very close to a popular primary school give me coffee shops, local produce shops, gifts etc and yummy mummies anytime.

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HJarrs says...
8:50pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Dealing with idiots wrote:
There will soon be a space available for an extra betting shop on Western Rd Hove. Formerly a shop that did well for 25 years until the loading times were changed with laughable 'consultation' under the Greens. Suddenly no early morning trade for this newsagent. Down to you councilor Davey. Are you going to pay this chaps mortgage? No thought not, you couldn't even run a bike charity successfully without a subsidy from local taxpayers.
Would the owner of that paper shop happen to be the able bodied former Tory candidate that seemed unable to cross the road when unloading a few months back in the Argus and who was behind the not so covert Tory supported petition to oust the Greens that has just expired without the thousands of signatures I would expected if the council had been so dire as the commentors on this forum constantly tell us they are. Shame, I wanted to see Theobold asked a few searching quetions about this. Never mind. As for job loses, you Tories would cut with glee in this city if you ever got into power and would happily see thousands more out of work.

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nuff said says...
9:23pm Wed 16 Jan 13

I thought the Conservatives were against the 'nanny state' ? So why does Andrew Wealls use the phrase "Unfortunately there isn’t much the council can do" when a legitimate private sector enterprise seeks to open up a new outlet, creating jobs in the process. Typical hypocritical Tory t*at.

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HJarrs says...
9:24pm Wed 16 Jan 13

wexler53 wrote:
Apparently, George St demonstrates the success of pedestrianised streets. Should be a good model for the Lanes...
So do you think you would find people support making it into a rat run again? You wouldn't even get the bookies there!

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leobrighton says...
9:45pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Don't see a queue of other potential businesses, its either bookies or empty shops, should have known that would happen when Tesco opened up round the corner.

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wexler53 says...
10:10pm Wed 16 Jan 13

HJarrs says...
9:24pm Wed 16 Jan 13


wexler53 wrote:
Apparently, George St demonstrates the success of pedestrianised streets. Should be a good model for the Lanes...
So do you think you would find people support making it into a rat run again? You wouldn't even get the bookies there!”

My point exactly. You would find a mix of shops people would like to use...

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bug eye says...
11:12pm Wed 16 Jan 13

the santander bank where corals want to open has not been closed for long so there probably are other outlets wanting to open and its probably its classification that stops this. the lion d'or is not empty and I would rather an empty shop than the opening of another betting shop making 4 in total will surely impact on other shops as people will avoid the area. therefore other shops will close and a downward spiral will start. if our elected representatives cannot step in on a clearly bad move alongside high parking charges and restricted parking then the economy of the city and the community is really doomed. hopefully with online gambling they wont last long.

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Dealing with idiots says...
11:34pm Wed 16 Jan 13

HJarrs wrote:
Dealing with idiots wrote: There will soon be a space available for an extra betting shop on Western Rd Hove. Formerly a shop that did well for 25 years until the loading times were changed with laughable 'consultation' under the Greens. Suddenly no early morning trade for this newsagent. Down to you councilor Davey. Are you going to pay this chaps mortgage? No thought not, you couldn't even run a bike charity successfully without a subsidy from local taxpayers.
Would the owner of that paper shop happen to be the able bodied former Tory candidate that seemed unable to cross the road when unloading a few months back in the Argus and who was behind the not so covert Tory supported petition to oust the Greens that has just expired without the thousands of signatures I would expected if the council had been so dire as the commentors on this forum constantly tell us they are. Shame, I wanted to see Theobold asked a few searching quetions about this. Never mind. As for job loses, you Tories would cut with glee in this city if you ever got into power and would happily see thousands more out of work.
Lol, check your facts before commenting.

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davenachfan says...
12:17am Thu 17 Jan 13

I enjoy shopping in George Street but it does not need any more betting shops. It does not need ANY betting shops.
I have never been into a betting shop and was warned about them by my grandpa in the 1950s.

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Morpheus says...
9:26am Thu 17 Jan 13

Are the shops selling lottery tickets also not supported in George Street?

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Fairfax Sakes says...
9:43am Thu 17 Jan 13

any business that makes money should be encouraged in these tough times, and I'm afriad quaint tea shops and artisan artwork doesn't cut the mustard at the moment!

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Joshiman says...
10:51am Thu 17 Jan 13

Neither does a Street with no other shops but Betting shops/Charity shops and pawnbrokers.I am sure there is some connection here.

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Glenda says...
11:19am Thu 17 Jan 13

leobrighton wrote:
Don't see a queue of other potential businesses, its either bookies or empty shops, should have known that would happen when Tesco opened up round the corner.
You have hit the nail bang on its head. How many yummy mummies shop in Tescos whilst bemoaning the demise of indepents in George Street.

I bet (and I do) that, if Tescos were allowed an in store bookies, all the Save the Children from Bookies and Pubs group would happily continue shopping in there in between seasons of Hard Men, the Wire only in boxset, of course, etc, etc.

In fact there is the answer for them buy Leon D'Or and open your Save the Children from Life Charity shop.

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AngelicDevil says...
1:26pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Glenda wrote:
Santander lost me more money than I have ever lost to a bookie. Took months to get my £20,000 back. I would be happier walking out of a bookies. Shame we have to lose Lion D'Or to a bookies though. They could combine the 2 if they changed the regs. I am for the Bookies myself.Brighton & Hove has a gambling and drinking heritage (Brighton Rock) with its knocker boys and wide boys. Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street.
Were you on tv recently about your issue with Santander? Did they resolve it?

I'd rather betting shops opened and provided employment than the retail space standing empty!

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ShorehamBeachcomber says...
1:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Bookmakers are great fun, they provide lots of employment with their extended hours & I and many live them. With empty shops all over the country we should be ecstatic the wonderful Paddy Power & Coral want to take up empty space, pay rates & employ people. Marvellous news

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baron Von Skidmark says...
2:05pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Grumpy0ldman wrote:
10 to 1 this doesn't happen
Odds on it does !

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baron Von Skidmark says...
2:11pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Are there really that many regular day to day gamblers and do they whore themselves from shop to shop...if so why ? surely one shop is the same as any other unless they do so to pilfer those funny little biros that make you feel like you have giant hands ..anyway I'm rambling and forgotten where i'm going with this....

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Purple55 says...
2:56pm Thu 17 Jan 13

The biggest concern is how this is feeding the gambling addiction problem. We have statistics stating that "nearly one per cent Britons have a gambling problem". Opening more easily accessible 'stores' is making this problem worse (the term "stores" is laughable, they're not selling anything!). I'm not heralding draconian measures of 'close all bookies' as know there are responsible gamblers who know when to stop and do indeed see it as a form of entertainment. However, for others it is a life-destroying habit that affects anyone connected with that person. It is as serious an addiciton as drug addiction and can devastate families due to financial problems.

Therefore, we shouldn't be creating even more high street locations, especially with those virtual roulette machines which, I've been told by gamblers themselves, are a "mug's game". We should be capping how many of these establishments can exist in a street and overall in any town. Having them everywhere makes it doubly hard for gamblers to give up the habit; self-exclusion schemes exist yet rely on said gambler visiting each outlet to fill out the form and even then that's easy to work around as often depends on which staff are manning said establishments on the day; some totally ignore self-exclusion even after people have requested it. Add to that the numerous tv adverts promoting gambling and it is now extremely hard for someone to avoid gambling 'hooks'. At least with drug addiction we do not have adverts promoting crack cocaine nor do we have high street shops selling it; and yet both addictions are life-threatening.

http://www.guardian.
co.uk/money/2012/apr
/20/gambling-hell-be
tting-addiction-debt


http://www.independe
nt.co.uk/money/spend
-save/the-problem-wi
th-gambling-new-figu
res-show-more-people
-than-ever-are-ruini
ng-their-lives-79422
30.html

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Glenda says...
5:38pm Thu 17 Jan 13

AngelicDevil wrote:
Glenda wrote:
Santander lost me more money than I have ever lost to a bookie. Took months to get my £20,000 back. I would be happier walking out of a bookies. Shame we have to lose Lion D'Or to a bookies though. They could combine the 2 if they changed the regs. I am for the Bookies myself.Brighton & Hove has a gambling and drinking heritage (Brighton Rock) with its knocker boys and wide boys. Lets not allow the yummy mummies to take over our High Street.
Were you on tv recently about your issue with Santander? Did they resolve it?

I'd rather betting shops opened and provided employment than the retail space standing empty!
No I wasn't on TV. Santander kept saying I had cashed the cheque for a month before realising they had sent it to someone in Barking, who cashed it somehow.

Eventually, on the day my Mum died at the Martlets Hospice, they paid the £20,000 with £400 compensation. I would rather of not had the stress than the compensation.

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bug eye says...
10:07pm Thu 17 Jan 13

this is not a case of empty shops, santander closed in november now just in january corals have a planning application to alter the shop, drawing up these plans takes time so the shop was not without interest. lion d'or is still operating and not empty just being taken over by paddy power. shops in george st generally let well but these large companies will pay more and drive up rents and rid us of independent shops like every high st. I just hope 4 betting shops will be self defeating, not to mention the danger of armed robberies.

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