Stockport Labour Group has called for action to be taken to restrict the spread of betting shops in the town. A motion will be debated at the Full Council Meeting on Thursday 27th June calling for Council officers to investigate what can be done to limit the number of betting shops and the clustering of betting shops in particular areas.
Figures revealed earlier this year by the ‘Stop the FOBTs’ campaign group showed that £152million was gambled in just one year across the four parliamentary constituencies that make up Stockpot on certain gambling machines.
There are 39 licensed gambling premises in Stockport, including 33 betting shops. 12 of these licensed gambling premises are located within the town centre.
The motion will be moved by Labour councillor Tom McGee (Heatons South ward).
Cllr Tom McGee, Shadow Spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The clustering of betting shops in areas like the town centre is worrying. We need a diverse and attractive high street to bring in customers and to ensure that a range of businesses can thrive. Other councils are looking at innovative ways of tackling this problem and hopefully this motion will kick-start Stockport Council to look at what can be done locally.
“Many people gamble responsibly and we certainly aren’t trying to vilify the whole industry. However, you can’t escape the link between problem gambling and a host of health and social problems. Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) have made headlines recently as a particular example of how easy it is to fritter away vast amounts of money very quickly.
“We want to work with the Council on this, so I hope the motion will be backed by all parties on Thursday.”
The issue of betting shops is being considered by several other local authorities. For example, Barking and Dagenham Council is consulting on proposals to restrict betting shops from opening too close to each other. Medway Council has set up a ‘Responsible Gambling Commission’ involving the Council and local betting shops to address issues.
Recent changes to national planning laws by the Lib Dem and Tory Government have made it easier for empty premises to be converted into betting shops or pay day loans shops without requiring planning permission from the Council.
The Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband MP called in April for new powers for local communities to help shape their high streets and stop the spread of pay day lenders and betting shops. Labour called for a new planning class to be introduced which would give local communities the right to halt, for example, premises that have previously been a bank being turned into pay day lending shops. Currently, planning law allows such changes to take place and local authorities are powerless to prevent them as the two businesses are classed as the same kind of businesses.