Newham Council calls for high street betting shop ban in Queen’s Speech

Newham Council has called on the Government to ban clusters of betting shops on high streets in the Queen’s Speech tomorrow.

The call comes after culture minister Hugh Robertson said controversial B2 betting machines are “crucial to the profitability of many betting shops” in a House of Commons debate on April 22.

Cllr Ian Corbett, executive member for infrastructure and environment, used the admission to urge the minister to roll out the full Portas Review which would give the council greater powers to refuse planning permission for betting shops.

Newham Council also meets gambling giants Paddy Power in court next month over its decision to reject a licence for new premises in Green Street, Upton Park, on the grounds that the majority of profits would be made from B2 betting terminals.

On Friday, Cllr Corbett said: “This is costing us taxpayers’ money that can be very usefully spent on other things.

“We have asked the Gambling Commission to step in which it has totally failed to do.

“It is time for the Government to act and the next Queen’s Speech is an ideal opportunity.”