Overall, I conclude that the balance of likelihood is that the use enabled by the removal of the condition in dispute would give rise to anti-social behaviour and disturbance to local residents and other users of Deptford District Centre; that the fear of crime would be enhanced by an additional betting office in close proximity to 5 others; and that there is a risk of an increase in actual crime. Such outcomes would broadly conflict with the intentions of criterion (d) of UDP policy STC4. There would also be material conflict with the social component of sustainable development, as set out in the NPPF. However, I have not identified conflict with any part of Policy 6 in the Lewisham local development framework Core Strategy (June 2011), also cited on the Council’s decision notice.Sorry, this writer had to go back to work and miss the fanfares and celebrations...
UPDATE 15-06-2012: Details...and Peckham continues the struggle...
The Deptford Dame has since gone into some detail about the Inspector's decision, which may have ramifications for any betting company who has to go through planning, with an interesting speculation on Betfred's next move – the High Court? (If only!). Dept Misc has also published the Inspector's decision in his post Deptford 4 - Betfred 0.
Deptfordians have been fighting Betfred since January 1st 2011 when we first spotted the notice on the old Halifax building of Done Brothers applying for their Gambling License. We soon discovered the Licensing Committee were powerless to turn them down, and, as Dept Misc sums up, it's only through a quirk (or foresight) of planning that we have held them at bay.
However, in Peckham, campaigners have just on Thursday (ironically the day after Deptford's good news) suffered the same disappointment as we did in January 2011, as Betfred swanned through Southwark Licensing Committee to get their Gambling License. Campaigner Rowenna Davis wrote the disappointing news on Thursday evening to fellow petitioners who had attended the license hearing at Southwark council that morning:
In this case, Peckham folk do not seem to have ahead of them the opportunity of seeing Betfred "go through planning" – though neither did Deptford campaigners see any hope back in January 2011. If anyone wants to contact Rowenna to help her in Peckham, please email us for her details.Despite a brilliant set of presentations from representatives of Peckham church groups, police, residents and business leaders, I'm afraid we lost the case today. BetFred is set to open.However, we did manage to win a stronger set of conditions - I believe extra staff and security measures - which I believe the council will publish shortly. I also think the fact we tried and failed tells a very important story about how local people don't have enough power. I think the licensing committee would have liked to have sided with us, but didn't feel they had the legal authority to do so. I plan to write about this and keep fighting the next application for a betting shop, which is at the Bun House.
