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BOMBSHELL AS CASINO FIGHT IS ABANDONED
Town Hall lawyers concede defeat to protests from campaigners
OBJECTORS erupted in fury at a planning inquiry on Wednesday after a Town Hall legal team – due to oppose a gambling casino in Archway – suddenly announced they could offer no evidence against the plans.
The inquiry was then allowed to continue for two days at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds in council tax.
Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who had been sitting with the public at the hearing, said he would immediately seek to strengthen the law against gaming arcades.
Angry residents, many of whom had taken time off work to attend the inquiry in Holloway, accused the council of “sell out” and “betrayal”.
The row began after the council’s QC, Alex Booth, told the inspector at the start of the inquiry that there were no longer planning grounds to object to proposals for the double-fronted gambling emporium in Junction Road.
Lib Dem and Labour councillors, who had turned up to oppose the casino, looked visibly shocked.
The QC’s bombshell came minutes into the inquiry. The legal team representing gaming centre Agora had offered to close its existing smaller premises in Junction Road if it was allowed to open bigger premises in the same road – the subject of the inquiry. Under the deal the current gaming premises would become as a normal retail outlet.
Mr Booth, amid hoots of derision, declared that, as a result of the offer, under the terms of the inquiry there were no longer planning grounds for the council to object.
He explained that the council’s case had been built around the arcade resulting in the loss of essential shopping space. But under the deal, the loss would be replaced by the closure of the current gaming arcade.
Mr Corbyn said he was extremely disappointed by the council’s stance, but described the planning law as inadequate to deal with gaming arcades.
He added: “The new Sustainable Communities Act should protect areas like Archway from the growth of gaming arcades, but it doesn’t appear to be doing so.
“There is an anomaly with the planning law and I’m pressing the Minister to change this, as are many of my MP colleagues.”
Mr Corbyn said that he is seeking new powers in Parliament that will allow councils such as Islington to refuse gaming applications on planning grounds in that they damage the sustainability of a shopping centre.
“A gaming arcade kills the community and kills the shopping centre,” he said. “It can entice vulnerable people, who see it as a salvation to their problems.”
Lib Dem councillor Ursula Woolley was incensed by the legal team’s decision, but blamed the government for allowing a law that ignores the needs of a community. “I don’t understand why we can’t control this kind of thing locally,” she said. “The new Sustainable Communities Act merely pretends that people have more control.”
Of Agora’s offer, she added: “It’s a complete joke.
“They offered to close tiny premises half way down Junction Road if we allow them to open a fantastic, double-fronted premises bang opposite buses and the Tube, where young children congregate. That’s not like for like.”
Better Archway Forum representative Adrian Bethan said the council’s legal team should have proceeded with the inquiry rather than give up at the first fence. “At the very least it could have called for the gaming firm to re-submit a new scheme and allow time for consultation,” he added.
The inspector heard the residents’ objections and will make a decision within a few months. |
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YOUR COMMENTS:
I took time off work to attend this appeal and was appalled by the duplicitous actions of Islington Council. The way they behaved showed nothing but contempt for local residents who will have to suffer the consequences of their spineless behaviour. The Council bring local democracy into disrepute.
Sandra Cashmore |
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