Planning application goes into council for 24/7 adult gaming centre in Bedford
Following Bedford council’s approval for a premises licence, the formal planning application has now gone in for the former Clinton Cards site.
Future Leisure Limited is getting its ducks in a row – and after already being given the thumbs up from the council’s Gambling Act licensing sub-committee, it’s now submitted the formal application for the ground floor’s change of use.
The former card shop, on the corner of Silver Street and Harpur Street, has sat empty for 15 months – and the applicant has agreed a 10-year lease of its ground floor premises.
Future Leisure Limited says it will invest in the region of £250,000 to transform the premises from a shop into a new, fully kitted-out adult gaming centre which will operate 24/7.
The premises licence was approved at the end of May, despite concerns from councillors, residents and police.
Although there were objections from Cllr Bywater, Cllr Edmonds, Cllr Spice, Teresa Bland, Reverend Davies, PC Elliott and PC Killock – as well as representative from the council’s children’s services and public health team – the licensing sub-committee said there was little evidence any existing gambling premises had been associated with crime or noise.
The other adult gaming centres in town which also operate 24/7 are Merkur Slots, in High Street, and Merkur Slots, in Allhallows.
The first and second floors of the building comprise of office and ancillary space associated with the existing premises and do not form part of the current application. The proposed change of use relates solely to the ground floor unit and would not alter the use, layout or operation of the upper floors (planning reference number: 26/01235/COU).
Planning history
>Two internally illuminated fascia signs – application refused
>External alterations to Harpur Street and Silver Street frontages – application permitted
>Installation of illuminated fascia signs and two projecting signs – granted consent
>Installation of three internally illuminated fascia signs and two internally illuminated projecting signs – application refused