The owner of Barry Island pleasure beach says those opposing his plans to bring a gaming and betting arcade to Monmouth town centre are misguided. Henry Danter applied for permission to turn his vacant property at the junction of Monnow Street and Agincourt Square into an arcade in spring 2021, but he says he’s faced roadblocks throughout the application process, and now he wants to meet with those opposing his plans.
Mr Danter, who lives in a nearby former hotel at Symonds Yat, believes the arcade will “inject some life” into a town which he says is “on the way down”. The store has sat empty for years, with signs now informing locals that they hope to be able to open soon.
But Mr Danter refused to be drawn on how confident he actually is that his plans will happen. Despite his assurances, Monmouthshire council’s planning committee rejected the proposal earlier this year following more than 200 objections and a 529-strong petition against the plans.
He has since appealed the decision, which is currently being perused by Planning Environmental Decisions Wales. Mr Danter has asked for a meeting to brief those opposing his plans on how the arcade will benefit the area.
“We got the planning licence more than two years ago and I really don’t know why it’s all taking so long now,” the rollercoaster-loving tycoon told WalesOnline. “There will be no issues here. Their worries are unfounded and unnecessary. The people trying to stop me don’t really know what they’re talking about.
“It’s the unknown I think - people are frightened of the unknown. But they have these in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, every city and town in Wales other than Monmouth, and it hasn’t turned out badly in many places.”
Mr Danter has owned the premises for 40 years and says he’s “tried everything to get a tenant in it”, but is currently losing a significant amount of money on it. “We’ve not been able to let it, no-one has shown interest,” he continued.
“The town is full of empty shops and every other month there is a shop that becomes empty. I think this is a way I could help to bring people back to the town. I think I may as well use it to do something which will be a credit to the town and which will have a future.
“They [Monmouthshire council] know and I know that if it isn’t operating properly they can take the licence from me and I’ll just sell machines in there. So it isn’t a risk to let us have a go.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below
Among the objectors were the principal of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools James Murphy-O’Connor and headteacher of Monmouth Comprehensive School Hugo Hutchinson. In a joint objection, they said the arcade would pose a “major safeguarding threat” with a “negative impact” on pupils’ wellbeing.
But Mr Danter said the townspeople would be “very lucky” to have the arcade there. “Gambling goes on everywhere in every town and city and is now all over the internet. We’ve been doing this a long time and we’re one of the pioneers of the gaming act and we’ve been very successful at what we’ve done. They’d be very lucky to have me there to do it.
“They should be pleased and proud that someone is prepared to make the effort to try and make it work and try and do something. The square is appalling and is going downhill fast - it needs life breathing into it, and we’ve got what it needs.”
Asked if he was confident he would eventually win permission from the authorities after the drawn-out saga, he added: “I’m confident we would give it the best we have and make it a credit to Monmouth. But if it doesn’t happen we could set it up as a showroom with machines in there.
“I would like to meet with all of those objecting to it so I can put across what I want to do. Let’s talk, and let’s get around the table. Currently they [those objecting] don’t know anything about it.”
A Monmouthshire council spokesman said: “The council is still awaiting the outcome of the appeal against the refusal of planning permission. This is being dealt with by Planning Environmental Decisions Wales.
“The planning application for change of use to a gaming centre was refused by Monmouthshire council on the basis that the proposal would have a harmful effect on the vitality, attractiveness and viability of the central shopping area and town centre, this being a prominent corner building opposite the Shire Hall in the heart of Monmouth conservation area. The council now awaits the appeal decision with interest to see whether the appeal inspector agrees with the council’s view on this proposal.”
READ NEXT:
- Former Tory minister confirms party deliberately misled people of Wales over EU funding
- A twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face — the man behind Barry Island's famous funfair and his plans for re-opening
- Pair quitting pub after 26 years because energy and wholesale food prices have doubled
- Chance to convert a collection of empty barns in Monmouthshire into four dream homes
