Arcades firm Agora in trouble

Published: 5 February 2010
by PETER GRUNER

ISLINGTON councillors responded to news this week that the gambling firm Agora has gone into administration. The company has several arcades in the borough and has provoked controversy by attempting to gain planning permission to open more.

Lib Dem councillors in the north of the ­borough have campaigned with local ­residents against them, ­submitting proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act to limit the number of arcades and off-licenses in the ­borough.

Councillor Tracy Ismail, Islington’s Lib Dem chairwoman of licensing, said: “They won’t be missed, local people have had enough of Agora and don’t want to see another gambling company replacing them at the Nag’s Head or anywhere else in the borough.”