Plans for a new betting shop in Staple Hill have been approved despite concerns about gambling in a “deprived” area and the impact on the high street. South Gloucestershire Council development management committee granted permission for the change of use of the former Lloyds Bank, which has been empty since the branch shut in September 2019, into a BoyleSports bookies.
Members said they were worried about gambling addiction and that it could lead to family break-ups but that there were no valid planning grounds to reject the application, which officers recommended giving the go-ahead despite objections from 216 residents. Staple Hill and Mangotsfield ward Cllr Ian Boulton, who is the opposition Labour group deputy leader, said claims from BoyleSports’ planning agents that allowing the betting shop would not lead to a “clustering” of similar businesses were false because there were already two others yards away.
He told the committee that the area was one of the most deprived in the district and that “poverty is a real issue and gambling a genuine concern”. Cllr Boulton said: “Studies have found an association between problem gambling and poverty.
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“The high street is vibrant and that hasn’t happened by accident – there is a lot of work put in to make it a vibrant and diverse high street.” Cem Kosaner, town planning director at BoyleSports’ agents Lichfields, told councillors: “The proposal is entirely in accordance with your own development plan.
“Your officers conclude that the introduction of a betting office would not harm the vitality and viability of the centre because the proposal would bring back into beneficial use a long-term vacant unit. It would complement existing uses along High Street. It would contribute towards the evening economy owing to the extended hours of opening.
“Betting offices are an appropriate town centre use and they are a destination in their own right. They increase footfall, with their customers going on to spend money in nearby shops and on services.”
A South Gloucestershire Council planning officer said: “This proposal would not undermine the vibrancy and vitality of the shopping. Having an active front that’s being used is of benefit to the centre rather than something that’s empty and can be vandalised.
“The merits of gambling are not a material planning consideration. Betting shops are a lawful use whether we like them or not. We may prefer to have a different use but we haven’t had an application come forward.”
Labour Cllr Mike Bell said: “The issue of mental health is important. There’s a 24-hour telephone helpline for people with a gambling addiction and a minority finish up homeless because the addiction has broken up families.
“The shop would be far better as a community shop. It’s not going to enhance Staple Hill at all.
“To say these people would spend money elsewhere in Staple Hill – they would stay in the betting shop all day. They may go out to buy a packet of fags but they’re not going to any other shop in Staple Hill.”
Tory Cllr Colin Hunt said: “Many of the objections put forward are nothing to do with planning. No matter what we think about betting shops – personally I hate them and I don’t believe in gambling – we can only judge what is before us, and that’s the planning application.
“There is nothing wrong with the application.” Lib Dem Cllr Tristan Clark said: “I am sympathetic to the concerns raised by residents in high numbers but we can only judge it based on the policies in front of us, and they make no provision for us to turn this down based on the harms given.
“If this had been an application for a tobacconist – the harms of smoking are beyond dispute – we would still have to approve a tobacconist in this location.” Members voted 6-0, with three abstentions, to grant permission on Thursday, January 19.
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