New betting shop for Sydenham?

[Big Ben]

House of Curtains, at 59 Sydenham Road (on the corner of Queensthorpe Road) is currently displaying a notice on behalf of Portland Bookmakers who are applying for a gaming license. The Sydenham Society object to this - apart from the loss of a shop in the core shopping area, there are already three other bookmakers on the high street - Ladbrokes at 85 Sydenham Rd, William Hill at 93 Sydenham Rd and another Ladbrokes virtually opposite on the corner of Newlands Park. The Sydenham Society has already written - and anyone else wishing to object needs to write immediately, enclsing two copies of their letter, to:
The Clerk to the Betting Licensing Officer
Greenwich Magistrates Court
9 Blackheath Road
London SE10 8PG.
Letters must reach the magistrates court by Monday Jan 16.

[Big Ben]

This is a second appeal for objections to the betting shop! House of Curtains have now applied to the planning dept for change of use from Class A1 (retail) to class A2 (betting shop). If you would like to object, please email or write NOW to the planning dept - address below. Below is the draft of the Sydenham Society's objection to this application, for the reasons outlined. I've seen a photo of the proposed shopfront and it's very bright and garish, with massive graphics!

Planning service,
Laurence House
1 Catford Road
London SE6 4SW email: planning@lewisham.gov.uk

Dear Planning Service

FOR THE ATTENTION OF GEOFF WHITINGTON
I write to object, on behalf of the Sydenham Society, to the application (DC/06/61840/FT) for the change of use of 59 Sydenham Road SE26 5EX from retail (Use Class A1) to a betting shop (Use Class A2).
The Sydenham Society objects because:
(i) the proposal, if agreed, would result in the loss of a retail unit from the core shopping area of Sydenham.
(ii) 59 Sydenham Road is located at the junction of Sydenham Road and Queensthorpe Road. The latter is a residential road consisting of family flats and houses. It would be entirely inappropriate to site a betting shop adjacent to a residential area. It is also a conservation area with an Article 4 designation.
(iii) betting shops, typically, have window frontages so designed that passers-by cannot see into the premises. That gives a closed off feeling to the premises which is very unappealing and inappropriate in a shopping area.
(iv) the proposed betting shop would create a "dead" frontage in a busy shopping area and would consolidate an already worrying level of non-retail use within a prime retail area.
(v) Betting shops already exist at 85 Sydenham Road, 93 Sydenham Road, and at the corner of Newlands Park/Sydenham Road, ie virtually opposite 59 Sydenham Road. Thus, the proposed betting shop is unlikely to attract significant new (betting) customers who might also visit surrounding retail outlets.
(vi) the retailers occupying 59 Sydenham Road are still trading from the premises. The proposal does not then use a vacant unit let alone use one that has been vacant for a long time.

We note that UDP Policy STC 4 Major and District Centres-Core Shopping Areas states that the Council 'will strongly resist any change of use involving the loss at ground floor level of Class A1 shops'. Exceptions to that policy are possible and STC 4 identifies the relevant factors. The points made above explain why we do not consider that those factors that might favour an exception to the Council's normal policy are present in this case.

We therefore ask the Council to refuse the application.

[stuart]

Thanks for posting that BB.

Because, as you say, Betting Shops are secret places - do we know how busy the other shops are? Is there really an explosion in demand which could justify the planning application?

I was horrified at the large Betting Shop opened adjacent to the Job Centre in Forest Hill. What sort of message does that convey? I guess it is a growing group of economically inactive residents being tempted to waste their meagre resources at the expense of their families.

The more affluent are doing it online ... and perhaps at the new casinos being promoted by the Labour Government. Will our Labour Council be brave enough to duck the trend of their masters to pander to this industry - or should I say parasites?

Stuart

[stone-penge]

I've sent then an e-mail objecting to this.
last thing the high street needs is another parasitic betting shop that offers FA to the community but drains and strains it.

That said I won 25 quid at the shop in newlands park after backing a horse tipped on radio 4 ( it had the same name as my cat)

[GLOBAL THINKER]

I've sent an email voicing my objections. Hopefully with the current interest in big businesses killing the high street, this one won't go through. Ever curious as to who is promoting Sydenham High Street to Class A1 retailers, is anyone? Another betting shop would not be beneficial to anyone.

[stone-penge]

Just got a letter from Lewisham this morning telling me this proposal has been refused!!!

[admin]

Hi SP,

Thanks for letting us all know. Does it specify the grounds - it would be great if you could add any detail so we can add it to our frontpage story.

Admin

[The Clown]

Fantastic. I had only just sent my email objection, it will no doubt serve its purpose though to reinforce what a good decision was made!

[Chris Best]

The good news is that 59 Sydenham Road has been refused planning permission. The change of use to 59 was considered contrary to Council policy as it would have resulted in the loss of A1 floorspace.

As your local Councillor I want to keep retail use in the core part of the high street and also provide a diversity of shops.

I am a regular shopper at the House of Curtains and encourage other residents to shop local and think global!

[marirenz]

Portman Bookmakers are now trying to get a licence for a betting shop in Brockley where the HomeView Video shop is. They managed to underhandedly change the licence from A1 to A2 by saying that there will be a financial advisor sharing the premises with the video shop and the public notice was only up for a few days so not all the residence heard about it either. At the moment there is already a betting shop directly across the road from the video shop ie 20 yards away. They are trying to open up these betting shops everywhere without any consideration to what shops exist and local community.

[Big Ben]

Have you got your local councillors involved in this - if I'm not mistaken, Brockley has got Green councillors including Darren Johnson (who chairs one of the planning committees). You should definitely involve them in your lobbying. Good luck!

[Big Ben]

Marirenz - is the shop in Brockley Rise or Brockley Road? Do you know the planning application number - I'll need that to look at the plans and possibly write an objection. By the way, have you involved the Town Centre Manager at Lewisham? If you're not sure who it is, give Lewisham Planning a ring. This sounds like the kind of thing they should be involved with, as they could possibly have some influence on the outcome of the planning application.