Councillors have spoken of their alarm after an application was submitted for a 24 hour gaming centre in a Knowsley town.
The application, by Merkur Slots UK Ltd, is seeking permission from Knowsley Council for a change of use at a former betting shop at Cavendish Walk in Huyton.
The company, which changed its name from Cashino Gaming Ltd in April 2021, lost an appeal to Knowsley Council against a similar application at nearby Derby Road last year.
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After Knowsley Council rejected that application, the company then applied to to the planning inspectorate to have the decision overturned. The inspectorate, however, upheld the council’s decision to refuse the application – although some of the grounds were disputed.
Speaking after the ruling, leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Graham Morgan said gambling companies were “not welcome” in Knowsley – which has the highest levels of gambling per population in the country.
Knowsley Council then moved to restrict the number of gambling facilities – including betting shops and gaming centres – which could operate within the borough’s town centres.
Despite these measures and the words of senior councillors, this hasn’t deterred the company from applying for change of use for another premises in Huyton, much to the chagrin of some of the borough’s cabinet members.
Tweeting as Knowsley Children’s Services Portfolio, Cllr Margaret Harvey said: “It’s disappointing to hear that Merkur Slots (previously known as Cashino Gaming Ltd) has submitted a licensing application to run an adult gaming centre in #Huyton.
“We were clear with their last application that they are not welcome in our town centres.
“We have been clear that adult gaming operators would negatively impact on the development of the #Huyton Village Centre as well as have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of residents.”
Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for adult social care Cllr Del Arnall also tweeted, saying: “Cashino Gaming, now known as Merkur Slots, are once again trying to open premises in #Huyton.
“We have a duty to better protect those most vulnerable from gambling harm.
“We know the financial and mental health harms that can be caused to individuals and families through gaming establishments and they have no place here in #Knowsley.”
The application was validated last week by planning officers and is currently open to comments before a decision is made on its progress.
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