"Keir Starmer has been urged to abolish an outdated rule that limits the power of communities to prevent bookmakers and 24-hour slot machine shops from opening on high streets. In a letter to the prime minister, nearly 300 politicians and campaigners called for an end to the aim to permit policy, introduced when Tony Blair's Labour government liberalised gambling laws in 2005. The rule places a legal obligation on licensing authorities, such as councils or the Gambling Commission, to err on the side of allowing new gambling premises."
"Our high streets are being hollowed out by a surge of betting shops and 24/7 slot-machine venues, while local people are left powerless, said the Labour MP Dawn Butler, who coordinated the letter. She said the aim to permit rule had left councils powerless to refuse licence applications, even in the face of local opposition. Last year, the government pledged to give councils more powers to block such applications by allowing them to take into account cumulative impact assessments looking at the number of betting and gaming shops already in an area."
Dawn Butler and nearly 300 politicians and campaigners urged Keir Starmer to abolish the 'aim to permit' rule that forces licensing authorities to favour allowing new gambling premises. The rule originated from the 2005 liberalisation of gambling laws and legally obliges councils and the Gambling Commission to err on the side of permitting bookmakers and 24-hour slot-machine shops. Campaigners warn that high streets are being hollowed out by clustered betting and slot venues and that councils are unable to refuse licences despite local opposition. The government offered cumulative impact assessments but signatories say that measure is insufficient and seek further reform and a meeting.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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