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Islington Tribune - by SARA NEWMAN
Published: 27 June 2008

Gambling arcade plan slammed

ARCHWAY’S town centre manager has made an outspoken attack on plans to replace a former hardware store with an arcade of slot machines.
Anna Woodward joined a school governor, a councillor and residents who are objecting to proposals to open an Agora Gaming Centre on the former premises of Emily’s Home shop on Junction Road, which is owned by Frankice Limited
It could be open seven days a week from nine in the morning until 11 at night.
The application will be heard by a licensing panel at the Town Hall on Monday.
There are seven bookmakers nearby, and Ms Woodward said she believes yet another opportunity to gamble in Archway would not be a positive development for the town centre.
“I would welcome an opportunity to work with the owners to identify and approach alternative types of retailers for the site,” she said. “I have myself been approached recently by traders interested in the site.”
The application follows the decision by a planning committee in February to refuse permission to refurbish the premises to make way for a gambling shop.
Labour councillor Wally Burgess said: “They [Frankice] are trying to win a licence, I assume, to go back and get planning permission. The owners have a cynical disregard for people who live in the area.”
The Office of National Statistics includes Archway in the UK’s 10 per cent most deprived areas. The Whittington Hospital in Magdala Avenue houses a mental health unit and Archway Community Care Centre provides services to people with alcohol and drug addictions.
Objectors estimate more than £100,000 will be taken from the weekly wages of local people. The council has received more than 30 letters of opposition and a petition signed by nearly 50 residents.
Property consultant, Hugh Picton Jones said in a letter to the council on behalf of Frankice Limited, that the company have not experienced problems with crime and unruly behaviour and have stringent rules refusing admission to people under 18-years of age.
He said: “The company staff are all trained and employed contractually to observe the requirements of the law with regard to the protection of children and vulnerable persons.”

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