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MPs call for better retail mix in Bradford betting shop campaign (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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MPs call for better retail mix in Bradford betting shop campaign
6:50am Thursday 12th July 2012 in News
Betting shops in Bradford
The majority of the district’s MPs have backed a Telegraph & Argus campaign for a change in the law to help restrict the number of betting shops in Bradford.
George Galloway, Respect MP for Bradford West, which covers the city centre, has also submitted a parliamentary question asking for more regulation of bookmakers.
Mr Galloway added: “The Government has already introduced stricter regulations on what are euphemistically described as sex encounter venues – topless bars – which effectively means that local authorities can ban them. There’s no reason that similar powers can’t be given to the authorities over bookmakers.”
It follows the launch of the Beat the Betting Blight campaign in the T&A, which calls for gambling premises to be required to apply for a special licence or be subject to a special planning category that would give local authorities the power to refuse them if it would be detrimental to the local shopping environment.
There are now ten bookies operating in the city, as well as eight amusement centres and two casinos.
Bradford East MP, Liberal Democrat David Ward, said the city centre was becoming a no go area. “Until we have shops that all parts of the community want, we are going to struggle,” he said.
Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins said: “Although not a gambler myself, I have no particular objection to betting shops bringing new jobs to the high street. However, I would much prefer that these units were occupied by retail outlets which would be of considerably greater benefit to the local economy.”
Meanwhile, Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, said the reason why so many betting shops were opening up was because they were the only ones prepared to open new shops.
“If the Council spent more time on making Bradford a place that companies wanted to invest in and less time trying to change the law to stop investment in the city centre, then we might get somewhere,” he said.
The campaign was launched after the latest bookmakers opened on Bank Street. Councillor David Green, leader of Bradford Council, admitted the authority was unable to stop William Hill opening up its latest branch as the premises had previously been used by a financial services company which, under planning rules, is in the same category of use.
Comments(24)
Avro
says...
8:21am Thu 12 Jul 12
Clowny
says...
8:49am Thu 12 Jul 12
thatsnotmyname wrote:Hardly it was under the Conservatives much of the damage was done to the city centre, including the initial approvals of bookies and arcades around the Broadway area.
Mr Davies speaking sense I see.
Instead of point scoring he should support the local retailers who are saying loud and clear they don't want more bookies.
collos25
says...
9:13am Thu 12 Jul 12
Political table tennis is practiced by those people who have little understanding of the facts.
johnhem
says...
9:18am Thu 12 Jul 12
its no good blaming arcades and bookies for all the ills in the town centre when they are at least open, more than you can say for the retail shops. if you need to put blame somewhere try the council and their anti-car attitude. its no good saying come in by bus, who in their right mind would buy large items that fit in the boot and carry them on a bus, if at all possible? if i bought a dishwasher or tumble dryer in town it would fit in my boot no worries, but try taking it on a bus!! sensible parking on street would be a start.
no good blaming any party, they are all as bad, instead of self-serving they should be serving the public that voted them in to do what the public wants them to do. they rack up nearly half a million in fines and then don't chase them up, where's the sense in that? think how well off the council would be if they grew a pair and started to do the right thing. chase these fines up and charge for finding them, adding the cost to fines. come down on uninsured cars and rake in fines and scrap value for unpaid insurance after 7 days. chase up unpaid council tax too, this would add up to an awful lot of money in council coffers. demand compensation from wastefield too, for every month this farce carries on. they will soon build or beggar off if its costing them to do nothing, then get someone in that will build.
matacaster
says...
9:26am Thu 12 Jul 12
Its Caisley taking an early lead with ABC coming up on the inside rails... Bradford Council jumping up and down,with No Money making up the rear. They now taking the canal road turn now and the next fence is the 'Wastefield' ditch ... oh and Caisley is a faller ... ABC now in the lead, but some stray Bulls in the field next to the racecourse causing concern to both runners and riders ... Eric Pickles is still near the back, but remember he's carrying a few stone overweight and unlikely to make the chase. Guilfoyle is into the final furlong now, but it seems the rest of the field can't quite see through the fog at the moment and its not clear that all the field are heading for the same winning post.
Its neck and neck but the winner is Guilfoyle, who had nothing to lose and picks up a big winners cheque.
windymiller
says...
9:41am Thu 12 Jul 12
ertnec
says...
10:39am Thu 12 Jul 12
johnhem wrote:You speak some sence even that you go on at bit, I sometimes do the same. We all understand Bradford Council are making many mistakes can not blaim other parties there all to bloody blaim. What annoys me is so many people who are on benefit spend Tax payes money betting and do beleave thats ok (what a joke). Your right in saying the doors are open its a choice (yes) but why so many. Bradford needs a selection of shops "ok" but who wants to open a shop in the town when your faced with charity, pound shops and hassle from drunks, shoplifters and other anti social issues.
since when has talking sense been point scoring? its this simple, the betting shops have doors and you do NOT have to enter, its a choice. people win as well as lose, and why not spend those winnings in town while there? in all my 60 (and a bit) years i have only been in a bookies about 4 times, twice to pick up someone elses winnings, and twice to place someone elses bets.
its no good blaming arcades and bookies for all the ills in the town centre when they are at least open, more than you can say for the retail shops. if you need to put blame somewhere try the council and their anti-car attitude. its no good saying come in by bus, who in their right mind would buy large items that fit in the boot and carry them on a bus, if at all possible? if i bought a dishwasher or tumble dryer in town it would fit in my boot no worries, but try taking it on a bus!! sensible parking on street would be a start.
no good blaming any party, they are all as bad, instead of self-serving they should be serving the public that voted them in to do what the public wants them to do. they rack up nearly half a million in fines and then don't chase them up, where's the sense in that? think how well off the council would be if they grew a pair and started to do the right thing. chase these fines up and charge for finding them, adding the cost to fines. come down on uninsured cars and rake in fines and scrap value for unpaid insurance after 7 days. chase up unpaid council tax too, this would add up to an awful lot of money in council coffers. demand compensation from wastefield too, for every month this farce carries on. they will soon build or beggar off if its costing them to do nothing, then get someone in that will build.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
10:42am Thu 12 Jul 12
Clowny
says...
10:47am Thu 12 Jul 12
@collos25 the council since in Labour control has blocked bookies where it can, for example on Kirkgate. You'll see if you check the planning site a number of arcades and bookies have been approved, some where the previous use was A1. Whilst under Conservative control A1 to A2 (declaring the change as Bookies were approved) e.g: 07/07797/COU
@windymiller they can do something, as the proposal the T&A are making is just that, they are not saying bookies would be outlawed but simply that they couldn’t hide behind A2 use, this gives councils the opportunity to properly weight up the pros and cons, you can have what’s called saturation where too many of one type of business are in one area. The main problem in Bradford isn’t so much the number of bookies, it’s the fact they are setting up next to each other, usually targeting retail streets for their footfall, that’s the problem the council want the power to stop.
You have to ask yourself honestly, if you were opening a shop, putting your hard earned money on the line, would you want to open your store on A) a street with many other retailers B) a street with a high proportion of bookmakers? Any savvy business person would choose option A as it guarantees more footfall from shoppers and the opportunity for passing trade making impulse purchases.
Clowny
says...
10:53am Thu 12 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Agreed the only way Bradford can set itself apart from other cities is to be attractive to independent retailers. They need support from the council, so far most of the independent retailers have been left to struggle and go out of business. So far Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour have all failed the city centre and have caused more harm than good, the parking meters being the latest mistake guaranteed to send more businesses into liquidation.
Bradford Council needs to attract smaller independent traders that offer unique products and services. Ivegate could be turned into a cross between Haworth and Brighton, with a mixture of boutiques, arts & crafts, vegan shoes, occult books, vegetarian cafes, etc. THEN people would come from all over Yorkshire.
CouncilCuts
says...
11:15am Thu 12 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Take it easy on the MDMA!...Bradford....
Bradford Council needs to attract smaller independent traders that offer unique products and services. Ivegate could be turned into a cross between Haworth and Brighton, with a mixture of boutiques, arts & crafts, vegan shoes, occult books, vegetarian cafes, etc. THEN people would come from all over Yorkshire.
.Brighton?...some centuries from that vision reaching fruition.
collos25
says...
11:20am Thu 12 Jul 12
Have bookmakers opened under both leaderships answer YES I rest my case.
Nothing to do with parties they have simply followed the law of the land.
ertnec
says...
11:26am Thu 12 Jul 12
jayho67
says...
11:33am Thu 12 Jul 12
Avro wrote:more obsession with bazaars, how bizarre!
Interesting to see that Galloway had nothing to say about the illegal bazaar traders that have just ben given the boot!
Why is it interesting, do think GG is secretly behind it all? LMFAO!
theoutsider
says...
11:43am Thu 12 Jul 12
Clowny
says...
11:45am Thu 12 Jul 12
collos25 wrote:A2 to bookies have happened under Labour as they can't legally be blocked. A1 to bookies have been blocked under Labour but weren’t under the Conversative Lib Dem coalition. You clearly don’t understand the argument and technicalities.
@collos25 the council since in Labour control has blocked bookies where it can, for example on Kirkgate. You'll see if you check the planning site a number of arcades and bookies have been approved, some where the previous use was A1. Whilst under Conservative control A1 to A2 (declaring the change as Bookies were approved) e.g: 07/07797/COU
Have bookmakers opened under both leaderships answer YES I rest my case.
Nothing to do with parties they have simply followed the law of the land.
Clowny
says...
12:06pm Thu 12 Jul 12
The problem is what has happened in Bradford, is the bookies have found a loophole, all they do now is first put in an application for A1 to A2 (without giving an intended use) so they get approval, then after that they put in an application to become a bookies.
The change the MPs are being asked for, is that this loophole is plugged by making bookmakers a classification in its own right so the merits of the planning application can be fully considered and rejected where appropriate.
collos25
says...
1:16pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Clowny
says...
2:13pm Thu 12 Jul 12
collos25 wrote:What are you on about?
Exactly you defeat your own argument wally.
My comment to which you tried to get on your high horse was simply the correct observation “It was under the Conservatives much of the damage was done to the city centre, including the initial approvals of bookies and arcades around the Broadway area.”
To which you replied (showing your complete lack of knowledge on the subject): “Get your facts right before you write.”
Let me remind you of your argument "Any party under present legislatation has no power to stop a business opening if it meets certain criteria."
That is wrong, I suggest you refer to the Betfred application on Kirkgate, it’s you that needs to get your facts right.
The bookies didn’t need to look for loopholes under the Conservative Lib Dem management of the city centre as they were being allowed to open bookies on Broadway, Bank Street and so on, arcades for that matter too. Essentially the Conservatives didn’t choose to apply the power of legislation they had to hand, if they had they would have at least delayed and likely prevented some bookies from opening. Labour at least has stopped some bookies from opening and stopped the loss of a key retail site on Kirkgate so is trying to stop it going the same way as Broadway.
johnhem
says...
3:09pm Thu 12 Jul 12
had they done that the odeon could have been saved years ago if they'd wished to save it. a lot of things could have been argued and stopped but it takes two to argue and if one side won't take part then things get pushed through regardless.
Clowny
says...
4:06pm Thu 12 Jul 12
johnhem wrote:If you read my other comments you'll see I only argue on issues, I’ll criticise Labour as much as any other party on their failings, be it the fact they don’t shut shisha lounges because one of their own councillors owns one, they also dragged their feet closing the bazaars. The introduction of more parking measures is also a damaging measure.
this would be the same labour party that took their bat home when it was the con/libs, ian deadwood stating they would turn up at meetings (for exe's no doubt) but take no part in votes.
had they done that the odeon could have been saved years ago if they'd wished to save it. a lot of things could have been argued and stopped but it takes two to argue and if one side won't take part then things get pushed through regardless.
For the record Ian Greenwood was every bit as useless as Kris Hopkins.
The fact remains, the Conservatives with the Lib Dems took a relatively healthy trading city centre and by the time they finished with it, it had far less trading business and far less footfall and with far more bookies. The chances are we’ll be able to say the same of Labour unless they come up with some ideas.
BertSanders
says...
5:15pm Thu 12 Jul 12
To attract better shops perhaps it is necessary to offer incentives - although I do not like that idea. Bradford has little to commend ii, and business people appear to agree.
justiceleager
says...
5:51pm Thu 12 Jul 12
theoutsider wrote:ooh the good ole day days, Carters was a great shop, knives and guns on the ground level and toys on the second, a great mix.
Cannot disagree that a better 'mix' is needed. Less cloth houses, 'bizaars' pavement trading, poundshops, street begging and MORE - Busby's, Christopher Pratts, Debenhams, Brown & Muffs Lingaards, C&A, Carters Sports etc...shops that Bradford people shopped in before someone decided to re-engineer as Bratfud bulldozing it socially, structurally and economically into the bargain !
**** the Bulls thread was getting quite entertaining, shame they pulled it.
http://tbradfordeleg
raphandargus.blogspo
t.co.uk/2012/07/new-
deadline-set-as-curr
y-boss-in-bid.html
Brilliant!
thatsnotmyname says...
8:06am Thu 12 Jul 12