The government will be forced to decide whether to bow to a co-ordinated campaign by a group of London local authorities to hand them back the powers they need to end ‘bookie blight'.
Councils from South, East and North London have complained that the Gambling Act 2005 wrested from them any power to reject applications for new betting shops based on the number of bookmakers already open in an area. They say the result has undermined local parades and high streets, changing their character, damaging the diversity of businesses and undermining them as community hubs.
The government is being pressed to accept multiple proposals to restore power to councils and residents over how many bookies should be allowed in a given parade or neighbourhood. Green Party councillors and members have campaigned on this issue in different parts of London, and have been endorsed by local authorities in Lewisham, Hackney and Islington and by the Local Government Association.
They are being presented formally to government through the new Sustainable Communities Act, which is intended to allow citizens and councils to propose devolution of powers to strengthen their communities.
Government has a duty under the Act to take proposals seriously and ‘reach agreement' with the LGA, which acts as a filter, on which shortlisted proposals to implemen
The LGA confirmed this week that all three proposals from those boroughs have been shortlisted - the final hurdle before consideration by the Government.
Lewisham Council's proposal, written by and campaigned for by Green Party councillor Ute Michel, would do three things:
- Allow local authorities to set a cap on the number of bookies in any area
- Oblige local authorities to consider whether there is real demand for another betting shop in the area
- Give betting shops their own 'use class' so planning authorities know an application is for a bookies
- they would no longer be 'invisible' amongst a range of other businesses until it is too lat.
The LGA confirmed on 17 November that it was shortlisting the first two elements, for a 'bookies cap' and the need for bookmakers to demonstrate real demand for a new outlet. They will now be the subject of negotiation with government.
Cllr Michel, one of six Green Party councillors in Lewisham, said:"New lax rules have allowed a massive increase in betting shops and left residents and businesses across the country fuming and powerless."
"We respect people's right to bet, so this is not a finger-wagging campaign against gambling. It is about the devastating economic effect on local shopping parades and neighbourhoods when bookie after bookie lines a street, crowding out other goods and services and eroding the sense of place and community."
"Our plan would give power back to council and community to set a locally appropriate cap and say ‘enough is enough."
"We have shown there is widespread support for this reform at the grassroots and in local government. Now the ball is in the government's court and we will find out if it is serious about empowering communities and sincere about its commitment to the Sustainable Communities Act."
Cllr Michel first became concerned about the issue after an unpopular bookies application in her ward of Ladywell, in an area that already had five betting shops, was rejected by the council but then overturned on appeal under the Gambling Act, leaving residents and councillors disillusioned with the law after they had conducted a long and energetic campaign.
Notes to Editors:
1) Consequences of the Gambling Act 2005:
* Poorer areas with low rents are becoming a magnet for high-street bookmakers, several of whom are implementing large-scale expansion plans.
* In a recession, the expansion of bookmakers shops increases the danger that those who can least afford to spend will be tempted further into debt.
* In the case of Lewisham, shops are also being located near to secondary schools.
* Lewisham has seen a 17% increase in betting licences in one year after the Gambling Act came into force in September 2007.
2) The Sustainable Communities Act allows anyone to make suggestions for changes that would make communities more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. The council in question has to agree with a panel of local citizens on which ideas to pass up to government, where they will have a chance of being implemented.