Campaign against third betting shop in one street gathers pace

A petition launched opposing a bid by bookmaker William Hill to open an outlet in Broad street in Newtown has been attracting support from residents in the town. Philip Glynn of campaign group Newtown Now has also set up an appeal page on Facebook and said scores of people in the town were opposed to the plans.

The new shop, which has been granted a licence, will create at least six jobs when it opens. There are already branches of rival bookmakers Coral and Betfred on Broad Street.

Mr Glynn said: "Everywhere I go and everybody I speak to are against these plans and I set up a petition which I encourage people to sign.

"The campaign is gathering pace and I don't know anybody who really wants the bookies to open up.

"We don't need another bookmaker in Newtown, we have two across the road from each other as it is. But my main objection is that they don't need to apply for special planning permission as they would only need to if it was a change of use from residential to business for example.

"This means they can just open up as they want and there is nothing we can do about it."

Mr Glynn said: "There is a lot of talk about FOBTs – the fixed odds betting terminals which people play roulette on - and they can be dangerous with people putting hundreds of pounds into them in one sitting. We just don't need more of this in Newtown.

"I keep on meeting those who are very opposed to this shop opening, so now is their chance to give their support to those who are so much against this new shop. We already have Coral and Betfred, that surely is enough for a small town like this."

Mr Glynn said he wants anybody who shares his concerns to contact him via text message on 07812 981619, email bashfulbrummie@sky.com or write to him at: 50 Commercial Street, Newtown, Powys, SY16 2BW.

He has also launched a page on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/436589176486813

Recently, William Hill lost an appeal against a decision to refuse it planning permission to open a shop in Broad Street, Welshpool.

Joe Crilly, a spokesman for William Hill, said: "We have been granted a licence to open our shop on Broad Street in Newtown.

"The shop is the result of a significant amount of market research and it will create at least six new jobs when opened."