A well-known businessman who has won a nearly two-year battle to bring an arcade to a quaint Welsh town has called the many people who opposed his plans “hurtful, embarrassing and stupid”. Henry Danter, who owns Barry Island pleasure park, applied for permission to turn his vacant unit at Agincourt Square in Monmouth into an arcade in early 2021.
However, he was met with derision from people who thought the arcade would lead to antisocial behaviour and would have a negative impact on people’s wellbeing.Monmouthshire council’s planning committee listened to the 200 objections and a 529-strong petition and rejected Mr Danter’s plans earlier this year, but Mr Danter then responded by appealing the decision.
In September Monmouthshire council told WalesOnline they were “awaiting the appeal decision with interest to see whether the inspector agrees with the council’s view” that the plans would “have a harmful effect on the vitality, attractiveness and viability of the central shopping area”.
READ MORE: The man behind Barry Island's famous funfair and his plans for re-opening
But the planning inspector, appointed by the Welsh Government, has upheld Mr Danter’s appeal, finding the use of the empty shop as a gaming centre is in line with planning policies. The inspector agreed with Mr Danter that the arcade had “scope to diversify the leisure offer in the town centre and complement efforts to develop the evening economy”.
Following the final decision, Mr Danter pulled no punches in what he thought about his plans being delayed to this point. “I am very, very excited,” he said, speaking ahead of his Firework Fiesta at Barry Island on Saturday.
“I’ve been at the arcade myself working on it for the last week. I can’t tell you how many nice people who have come to me and said ‘Thank God someone like you is coming and breathing life back into Monmouth.'
“Forty years ago when I bought that property Monmouth was really buzzing. Some of my happiest times in my life have been in Monmouth when I was younger, enjoying nightclubs, wine bars, and especially The Gate House. I have tried to lease the unit for a long time but there have been no takers.
“Maybe not everyone is into gambling, but not everyone is into cigarettes and drinking, it doesn’t mean we don’t have it. These things exist in all towns and cities and when they are under control they are good things to have. If anything gives gambling a bad name it’s the scratchcards in the shops.
“When people in Monmouth oppose this arcade I’m afraid they’ve got it all wrong. They don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re out of touch with the truth. I have found it hurtful, embarrassing and stupid how people can say such crazy things with no evidence of what they’re talking about.”
The report added that there was no evidence that opening the arcade would lead to gambling clusters but explained that Mr Danter will be subject to legislation regulating gaming including age restrictions. Mr Danter must also stick to a noise management plan.
“All the people who have been against this, I will say it again - I am willing to meet them and talk about my plans. I am willing to say: ‘Hey, let’s have some common sense - you don’t know what you’re talking about.’
“What I am going to do is controlled gambling being watched over by people who are trained and know exactly how to do the job properly. We know what we are doing. I’ve seen these arcades revive Hereford, we’ve revived Barry Island.
“All these people making terrible accusations about what we create - I think they are unfair and unjust. I am willing to speak to people who oppose me - one to one or one to ten, I’m not bothered.
“I am unsure why those who opposed my plans are not more concerned about the state of Monmouth town centre. There is nothing there, it’s becoming dead.
“These games machines are in every Wetherspoons. I think people who oppose it need to get a life. If people like a gamble there’ll be no better deal than this. This is going to be the real deal done right.”
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