Luxury Leisure has been approved to open its Admiral AGC in Bearwood for 24-hours a day, after securing a change in the planning permission from Sandwell Council.

Though the authority’s own public health department and West Midlands Police objected to the extension, councillors voted to allow the amendment.

“It is unclear why the hours of use were restricted,” stated Luxury Leisure’s submission. “However, the principle of 24-hour and late night use in the town centre is well established.”

“Adult gaming centres are established bona fide town centre uses which add to the diversity and choice of uses in town centre locations and which have no harmful impact on retailing activity.”

“Internally, there is no noisy amusement arcade equipment which attracts under 18s and has an impact on amenity. Unlike an ‘arcade’ which is noisy to attract passing custom of all ages, there is a statutory obligation to exclude under 18s from adult gaming centres.”

West Midlands Police said Bearwood Road is a “high crime area,” with 34 reports of anti-social behaviour made in the last 12 months, and seven late-night call-outs specifically related to customers damaging gambling machines.

However, Luxury Leisure said “there are no adverse impacts and there is no evidence of any anti-social behaviour being exacerbated by such uses.”