We Say NO to more gambling and betting activities in Palmers Greeen.

We the residents of Palmers Green, North London, wholly object to the application for an Adult Gaming Centre (Palace Amusements) by East Kent Leasing Limited on on 369-371 Green Lanes,  N13 4JH

We ask ENFIELD council to REJECT THE PROPOSED ADULT GAMING CENTRE and change of use for yet another betting shop in the premises previously occupied by Lloyd's bank. 

Our high street is at the heart of our community, where local people should come to shop, relax and socialise. We already have a dense concentration of betting shops on our high street: two Ladbrokes, Merkur Slots, Bet Fred and Paddy Power - we don’t need any more! 

IMPORTANT!:  TO STOP THE LICENSE WE WILL EMAIL OUR OBJECTIONS (see below), ADDING OUR NAME AND ADDRESSES TO: Licensing@enfield.gov.uk, cllr.doug.taylor@enfield.gov.uk, cllr.chris.james@enfield.gov.uk 

Deadline: 30 July 2023!

WE WILL WRITE OUR PERSONALISED EMAILS, BASED ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

We OBJECT to Palace Amusement, and OPPOSE more gambling in Palmers Green because

• The new proposed Palace Amusement shop (on 369-371 Green Lanes) will open just one shop apart from the existing Ladbrokes! ( 363-365 Green Lanes) and 24 metres away from Paddy Power.  The Development Management Document (DMD 33)  states that "There should be a minimum of five non-betting shop units between the proposed site and the next betting shop premises, or at least 25m, between them, whichever is greater." In addition it will be 78 metres away from G&S Jewellers which also operates as a pawn shop.
• BETTING SHOPS DETRACT FROM VITAL SERVICES: What we need in our high street are amenities and shops that serve our family-friendly community. Losing the current commercial business [to have a betting shop instead] would “detract from the function of the primary retail frontage” and “have a detrimental impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre. Betting shops in the area discourage the opening of other more needed businesses that could benefit the community: retail, books, cinemas, fashion, shoes, art clubs… Local residents in Palmers Green have worked with businesses to improve and support the high street. They are keen to see the local day and night-time economy thrive, and the opening of another Adult Gaming Centre in a prime spot in the high street would be highly detrimental to those efforts.
• THE COUNCIL MUST COMMIT TO THE REGENERATION OF THE AREA: Approving a licence for another adult gaming arcade on the high street is counter to the ambitions and visions of Enfield Councils Palmers Green Town Centre Action Plan published in 2022 . Enfield Council is particularly concerned that significantly higher risks are associated with gaming machines. As outlined in their Gambling Act Statement of Principles 6th edition January and there is already an adult gaming centre (Merkur), multiple betting shops as well as several pubs that house gaming machines.  
• RISK TO CHILDREN: This type of venue is totally unsuitable in this area with a large number of growing families and elderly.  Children account for 20% of the demographic in Palmers Green. Our children risk becoming normalised to gambling, and will be exposed to yet more betting shops and gamblers while en route to school, to the nearby park, playgrounds and local shops, or at bus stops. The site for the gambling application is just 80 metres from Devonshire Square, a recently created pedestrianised community space where markets and events are regularly held and children are invited to play on the bespoke street furniture. This project has been funded by Enfield Council.
  FROM THEIR RISK ASSESSMENT, Palace Amusement state that they are 'aware of student learning facilities (schools & colleges) in the local area'. But It is difficult to understand how their mitigation measures - such as for instance “Frontage of venue will be designed so as not to be attractive to children. No line of sight into premises from the exterior” - could be effective and credible when THIS IS AN EXAMPLE of one of their arcades where although you can’t see in - passers by including children are enticed by bright lights and promises of £500 jackpot machines
• We have a visible number of VULNERABLE PEOPLE including elderly, homeless, beggars, drug addicts and alcoholics using that segment of Green Lanes. They need to be protected from being harmed and exploited by gambling. Palmers Green ward is one of the top 40% of most deprived wards in the country. Town centres should not be places where people are encouraged to waste money, get into debt, cause damage to their lives and to their families. There are many more people now struggling financially, making them more vulnerable to such a venue. The gaming centre is in close proximity to vulnerable groups - including schools, care homes and addiction support services (*)  - and would have a “harmful effect on the health and wellbeing of residents and the local area” 
• LOCAL CRIME IS ON THE RISE. We must prevent the threat posed by all sources of crime and disorder, starting from gambling. *East Kent Leasing (Palace Amusements) themselves have noted  that the potential of risk posed from gambling related harm in this area might be higher than normal due to the levels of social deprivation. An element of street drinking and homelessness was noted during the Risk Assessment. They also note ‘Awareness of heightened local crime in the local area’.
  Data from the police already confirm an upward crime curve in Palmers Green while researches* show that for one unit increase in betting shops, shoplifting counts increased by approximately 16%, theft from person by 10%, anti-social behaviour by 7%, public disorder by 7%, and bike thefts by 6%. There is a well-known risk that these venues attract money laundering, and criminality. These venues encourage behaviour that has a negative effect on individuals, families and communities.

- Palace Amusements plan to mitigate the risks by for instance  “installing CCTV cameras at the front and back of the building to monitor this at all times.*Mag locks will be fitted to the lobby doors for the extra security of our staff and customers.*Regular reviews of Police Crime Stats for local area”.  However there are several little alleys in that segment of the high street, near the proposed AGC, that are NOT monitored by cameras and where criminal activities including drug dealing, drug consumption, drinking and money trafficking is perpetrated. People, including homeless and beggars in the area could easily access the nearby hidden alleys to become inebriated and be attracted and exploited by gambling in Palace Amusements. 

We implore Enfield to listen to residents and take a holistic look at our high street, with all the efforts being made by volunteer groups to improve the high street with art, planting and new businesses, there is no place for another adult gaming centre.

Thank you all who will sign the petition and, crucially will email their objections directly to the council.

(*) References:

Devonshire Square community space 
Broomfield Park 
UK Community Centre, 26 Oakthorpe Road, N13 5JL 
Medstar UK, 200 Green Lanes, N13 5UE ADDICTION/VULNERABLE SUPPORT SERVICES 
Woodlands Residential Care Home, 33-35 Fox Lane, N13 4AB 
Abbeydale Care Home, 51-53 Fox Lane, N13 4AJ 
Roland Residential Care Home, 231 North Circular Road, N13 5JF
Priory Adult care -  43 Devonshire road
https://www.prioryadultcare.co.uk/find-a-location/devonshire-road/
 Hazelwood House, 9 Hazelwood Lane, London N13 5EZ
https://www.shinepartnerships.co.uk/hazelwood-house/
Forensic (inc 37/41) & Non Forensic Mental Health & Complex Needs inc. LD
Millennium Care 10, 1 Old Park Road, London N13 4RG Tel: 020 8447 8897
Millennium Care 7, 89 Fox Lane, London, N13 4AP Tel: 020 8882 8171
www.millenniumcareservices.com
Queen Ann Care, 38-42 Old Park Road, Palmers Green, London, N13 4RE
http://queenanncare.com/
 Hazel House,  57 Fox Lane Palmers Green N13 4AJ
https://www.conniferscare.co.uk/homes/hazel-house/
 Grovelands House, 64 – 66 Grovelands Road, London N13 4RH
https://www.shinepartnerships.co.uk/hazelwood-house/
Forensic (inc 37/41) & Non Forensic Mental Health & Complex Needs inc. LD