Plans to convert a disused NatWest bank in Staines into a bingo hall has highlighted the high levels of disinformation about the gaming industry that is threatening the future of land based operations and undermining the survival of Britain’s high streets.
Developer Sunni-Ed Ltd has applied to turn the listed building’s ground floor, previously occupied by the bank, into a venue it claims would bring “vitality and viability” back to the town centre.
“A bingo hall in place of a vacant bank will add to the vitality and viability of the town centre by trading seven days a week,” said the planning statement. “Changing the use of the site will not reduce the retail offer and will benefit the centre by increasing footfall.”
But, according to the BBC, locals commenting on their council’s planning portal believe that the proposal could eventually lead to the bingo hall having “a full gambling licence” – highlighting that local authorities are not properly informing their constituents about how premise licences actually work.
“It looks harmless on the surface, but I’m worried this is just the start,” said the objector.
But the start of actually what?
The reason the property is vacant is because the multi-billion pound profit making banks have cottoned on to the fact that they don’t want to be on the British high street.
The banks are exiting the local economy by the thousands of their branches. They will be replaced by a single tiny banking hub with a few machines from the various banks. Some 6,300 branches have closed on the high street in ten years: that represents two thirds of the total number of banks in the UK. The last one third are being shuttered gradually at a rate of 50 plus a month.
They are not coming back. Neither are New Look, Poundland, Smiths and many other high street staples who are already decreasing their land based numbers and closing selected outlets.
The AGC sector is currently operating at its lowest ever level in terms of numbers – it has declined by a third since 2011. Despite that, there are operators willing to invest on the high street. And these new opening applications are not even replenishing the numbers closing.
The fundamental argument about gambling operations used by fundamentalist councillors like Howard Williams of Spelthorn Borough Council is false. And worse, he has no concept of how to bring people back to the high street; only how to push them away.
And true to form, he has said if officers recommend approval of the bingo licence, he will call in the application to be decided at a planning committee. Public comments remain open until 7 October, with the council expected to decide later this year.
And there lies the problem of the licence and planning process for the gaming and gambling industry in the UK. And the loser will be the UK’s high streets.
