The addition of a betting shop to one of the “poorest parts” of Liverpool could exploit vulnerable adults amid a spiralling cost of living crisis according to a former city mayoral hopeful.
An application has been launched by the parent company of Paddy Power to open a new location on Broadway, Norris Green. The bid will be heard by Liverpool Council ’s licensing and gambling sub-committee next week.
Power Leisure Bookmakers Limited hopes to gain approval to open a betting office which would trade on the ground floor of a two-storey building, with vacant accommodation above. However, concerns have been raised about the impact of an additional gambling location where two betting shops and a casino gaming site already exist.
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Offering his objection, Cllr Anthony Lavelle who represents nearby Croxteth ward, said he hoped the committee would reject the application. He wrote: "Having visited Broadway recently, I think it would be fair to say that this little section of shopping parade is littered with gambling shops, it already has two Betfreds, an admiral casino and a Ladbrokes.
“I strongly believe adding another gambling shop to the parade will only further exploit vulnerable adults to continue to gamble. I think having so many shops within a close proximity also undermines the requirement that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
“Broadway is in one of the poorest parts of our city and with a spiralling cost of living crisis I think the option of another gambling shop in the community only serves to exploit many vulnerable adults. I hope the licensing committee will look at this application and decline it given the points I have set out above.”
Cllr Matthew Smyth, who represents Clubmoor, said another betting shop could be to the detriment of children. He said: “I wish to object to this application on the grounds that Broadway is a regular hotspot for antisocial behaviour, as Merseyside Police would be willing to attest.
“There already exists three other gambling premises on the same stretch of shops and adding an additional one will only make the problems of addictive gambling worse and could lead to an inability to provide ‘free and fair gambling.’ Children regularly peruse the Broadway shopping area and children from the nearby Leamington and Wellsborne schools will likely be affected by an increased number of gambling establishments.
“I object to this application in its entirety, but if it is granted, I request a complete ban on any Fixed Odds Betting Terminals on site.” Paul Whiteside, who owns Broadway Carpets and Flooring, made a representation arguing the unit would be better served “servicing the local community with any number of vital amenities rather than something that feeds addiction.”
The sub-committee will consider the application on December 6.
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