Plans for Cambridgeshire 24-hour 'adult gaming centre' spark antisocial behaviour concerns

Plans for a takeaway to become a 24-hour 'adult gaming centre' have sparked concerns about potential antisocial behaviour. Gambling company Merkur Slots Ltd submitted an application in April to change the use of a takeaway on Peterborough's Lincoln Road into a gambling arcade.

The building at 551 Lincoln Road is currently the New Golden Dragon takeaway. There are already two operational Merkur Slots venues with 24-hour consent in Peterborough, one of which is on Lincoln Road.

A footfall report from the applicant said: "The nature of high streets has changed. Merkur AGCs [adult gaming centres] attract people into centres, generate good levels of footfall, maintain high levels of pedestrian flow and generate linked trips."

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Several comments on the Peterborough City Council planning portal expressed concerns that the arcade would lead to increased antisocial behaviour in the area. Others said they were worried about the addictive nature of such centres. The majority of nearly 30 respondents to date said they opposed the application.

Councillor Mohammed Haseeb said he believed the proposed arcade posed 'significant risks' to community welfare and said it should be rejected. He said: "The area already hosts several gambling outlets, contributing to an unhealthy gambling environment. Adding another establishment could exacerbate problem gambling and related social issues."

One nearby resident wrote: "We have enough of these establishments on this street and so another one will not add value to the area but will have the opposite effect and introduce more ASB [antisocial behaviour] to the already struggling area." Several other residents said they believed there were already too many similar gambling shops in the area.

Jules Hanrahan, the Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) for Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said that the existing Merkur Slots sites were in areas that "constantly attract crime and antisocial behaviour" but that there was no evidence the premises contributed to or caused any issues. She said there should be an access control strategy during the hours of darkness in case there is an issue on the site.