Our bingo hall win

Published: 11th March, 2011

• RESIDENTS of Archway, and visitors, will be familiar with the running sore that is 31-35 Junction Road. Nos 31-33 used to be a lovely homeware shop, Emily’s Home. When that closed, the premises were bought by an organisation that wanted to turn them into a gaming arcade. Its application for planning change of use was, thankfully, refused by the council but the applicant won on appeal.  

Archway provides many opportunities for gambling: not only is there a shopfront with gaming machines, there are several betting shops. There are two primary schools and two secondary schools nearby, as well as Archway Children’s Centre. It is an area of high deprivation where the enticement of quick riches is sometimes hard to resist.

Many people objected to the application to turn these premises into a gaming arcade and we were devastated by the overturning of the decision on appeal.  However, help came from an unlikely quarter: the company went bust. So the gaming arcade didn’t open, but the place is an eyesore.

Recently, there has been a planning application for no 35 Junction Road for change of use to a bingo hall. I understand that a bingo hall can be premises consisting only of bingo machines, therefore permitting higher-value machines.  

Again, local people swung into action and sent in their objections to the council, which has, I am delighted to say, turned down the application. Thank you, everyone – we really have enough opportunities to gamble, and more will not improve Archway.
Cllr Janet Burgess
Labour, Junction ward