BeLucky’s bid to open 24 hours won officer support and a recommendation for approval, but councillors still rejected it, with one even asking “who would want to go out at that time of the night”? No wonder the British economy is in trouble.

Plans to allow an adult gaming centre in Gloucester to open 24 hours a day have been refused by Gloucester City Council – despite planning officers recommending approval.

Operator iLudo Limited had sought permission to remove restrictions on the BeLucky site on Westgate Street, which currently opens between 9am and midnight Monday to Thursday, until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 10pm on Sundays and bank holidays. 

Noise and antisocial behaviour were raised as potential issues by residents, though the council’s own noise advisers “raised no objections” to the plans. Officers concluded there were “no planning grounds” to refuse the proposal and advised councillors to approve it.

And rightly so. Incidents of anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of AGCs are very rare on either police or council records – anywhere in the country. Indeed, there is no national statistic to support the argument – a point that will clearly be raised at the appeal.

However, members of the planning committee voted unanimously to reject the application, citing moral and social concerns unrelated to the planning assessment. 

Councillor Pam Tracey said the city “is not Las Vegas”, asking, “who would want to go out at that time in the night”? Clearly Tracey is not aware of the truck drivers, emergency responders, the vast night-time economy and the many blue collar workers that keep the country ticking over night. Councillor Andrew Lewis opposed the AGC, though he also admitted, “I don’t think the health and wellbeing of the people in Westgate Street or around will be affected by it”.

The operator argued the extended hours would support business growth and provide a safe, managed environment for customers. However, councillors ultimately ruled the change “would not improve the environmental quality” and could “impact on human health.”

The proposal was therefore refused in full, representing more stifled growth on Britain’s high streets thanks to prohibitionist councillors.