Green Party community councillor for Newport Central, Vix Lowthion, has tabled a proposal at the next Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council Planning Committee to recommend refusal of the application for an ‘Adult Gaming Centre’ on Newport High Street.
Adult Gaming Centres are often called arcades or bingo centres, but the one proposed for Newport would be for over 18s only, open all day from 10am-10pm and include category B3 machine machines with an advertised top prize of £500.
Reasons for objection
Her proposal for refusal is on the grounds of location in a conservation zone, negative impact on crime and anti-social behaviour, and the protection of children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
It adds that the location is only metres away from three public houses and that ‘studies show that gambling whilst intoxicated leads to larger average bets and rapid loss of funds. Subsequently this site is not appropriate for Adult Gaming’.
Lowthion: An increasing number of vulnerable people in Britain are developing gambling problems
Vix says,
“These are not the low stake slot machines we usually see on piers and seafronts across the Isle of Wight. The location is on a busy route for school children and across the road from the new NHS Community Mental Health Support Hub.
“An increasing number of vulnerable people in Britain are developing gambling problems and the opening of centres like this will only serve to fuel gambling addiction and risk taking.”
The public consultation (25/00064/FUL) is open for all comments until 14th March. The Planning meeting is on Monday 3rd March at 6pm at 64 High Street, Newport.
News shared by Vix, in her own words. Ed
