Thanet District Council has approved plans submitted by Cain’s Amusements to open a new Jackpot Slots AGC in a former shop on Northdown Road, Cliftonville.

The site will join Cain’s sister venue on the same road, and another on nearby Ethelbert Crescent, which has been established since 1987.

“These forms of adult gaming centres are a long-established and accepted addition to high streets throughout the country,” said a statement. “The applicants already operate two similar gaming centres within the Cliftonville area.” 

“They are therefore an established operator of such centres in the district. There have been no known concerns both operational wise and from antisocial behaviour, proof that they are well-managed facilities and they are experienced operators.”

According to the statement, Cains has already made a “sizeable” investment in renovating the premises, which has been granted a licence and will create six new jobs when it opens. 

Responding to some local objections, planning applications manager Iain Livingstone reminded councillors the authority “did not have a policy to refuse on the basis of not wanting any more gambling centres in the area.”

Despite that official observation, the Isle of Thanet News reported the proposal was only “narrowly approved,” a measure, perhaps, that some councillors are beginning to understand that rejecting applications on unmerited grounds is both a wilfull refusal to follow the law and would also incur an additional cost of legal fees to the council payer.