Players Amusements will now extend gambling premises to ground floor of adjacent building
The DUP and Alliance have both made a u-turn on the extension of a gambling establishment at Shaftesbury Square in Belfast, after councillors at City Hall voted in favour of the licensing application, reversing a decision from earlier in the summer.
In June Belfast Councillors spoke of their concerns about the “proliferation” of gambling outlets in the city centre during a tight vote at City Hall. They blocked an attempt by Players Amusements to extend gambling premises to the ground floor of an adjacent building, that is from 22 Shaftesbury Square to the rear of 23 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2. The DUP cast the deciding vote in the June vote, as they have the Chair of the Licensing Committee.
23 Shaftesbury Square has been vacant for years. The plan is to house another 15 machines here, which would result in 69 machines in total in the two units. All pay out a maximum all cash prize of £500. The applicant is Leanne McGivern, of Play SS Limited.
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Two years ago the Belfast Planning Committee gave the green light for ground floor change of use at 23 Shaftesbury Square to an amusement arcade. The Licensing Committee decision in June, if it had stood, would have effectively blocked this.
At the June meeting of the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee, Sinn Féin, the UUP and one Alliance Councillor voted in favour of the application, while the DUP, the remaining Alliance Councillors, the SDLP, the Greens, and the TUV voted against the application. The vote was nine members in favour, and nine against. The DUP Chair, Councillor Jordan Doran, had the right to cast the deciding vote, and he voted against.
At that meeting DUP Alderman Dean McCullough said: “We had a number of presentations recently from gambling charities that work across the United Kingdom, and are working towards legislative change on the devastating impacts of gambling – which can lead to people losing their livelihoods, and in the worst cases their lives. I do have a concern about the amount of such facilities in the city centre now.” He said gambling had become “an epidemic.”
However, at the August meeting of the Licensing Committee, held on Wednesday (August 21st) the DUP, and most of the Alliance Councillors in the chamber reversed their decision, following comments from an expert on amusement permits.
The vote on Wednesday showed 16 in favour of the application from Sinn Féin, Alliance, the DUP and UUP, to two against the application, from the Green party and the TUV.
In addition to the existing arcade at 22 Shaftesbury Square, there are gambling arcades at Oasis, 14 Shaftesbury Square and 1-7 Donegall Road. Within approximately 200 metres walking distance from Players are Onassis Amusements, Second floor, 25-41 Botanic Avenue, and Playland, 24-28 Bradbury Place.
At Wednesday’s meeting, a council officer stated: “Last time, the committee determined it was minded to refuse the application, as it was not considered to comply with the council’s amusement permit policy, on the basis of the suitability of the location, the grounds of cumulative build-up, and the increase in the number of gaming machines in the particular location, impacting on the character and the amenity of the areas.
“When the committee is minded to refuse an application of this nature, the committee is required to advise the applicant of its intention to do so, and it must afford the applicant an opportunity to come and make representations before making a final determination. The applicant has provided further written submissions in support of their application.”
Dr Tony Quinn, a consultant, who has advised the council on the formulation of amusement permit policy, told the committee: “The Amusement Permit Policy was formulated in 2013, and it is a guide for the assessment of the movement arcades in Belfast Council. It highlights areas where there is a presumption against these establishments, but also highlights areas where they are open to consideration.
“Very simplistically, that means they are restricted in areas that are predominantly residential in character, but they are open to consideration in areas that are mixed use in character, like the city centre, within which this particular application is being submitted.”
He said: “In relation to this particular application, technically, from my appraisal, it broadly satisfies the suitability of a location for the establishment of an amusement arcade. It is in the city centre, it’s not in the busiest shopping streets, and it’s not predominantly residential in character.
“From the perspective of cumulative impact, machine numbers were mentioned, the 15. That is a marginal increase on what actually exists in the locality. We have to ask ourselves the question, whether or not that particular finding is sufficient to tip the scales against all the other criteria.”
A lawyer representing the applicant said at the meeting: “The applicant wants to invest a further £200,000, the premises need a refurbishment, they are a bit tired and past their best.”
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