Edgware Arcade at 226 Station Road Gets Its Gambling Licence

Overview

A gaming arcade at 226 Station Road, Edgware, has been granted a licence. Barnet’s Licensing Sub-Committee approved it on 3 November with 11 conditions. The council’s own Public Health objection was set aside before the hearing because it was not a valid representation under the Gambling Act.

The applicant is East Kent Leasing Limited, which will trade there as Palace Amusements. The decision is recorded in the sub-committee’s draft minutes, published this week.

We reported before the hearing that two objections had been lodged: one from Public Health and one from a local resident.

Why the Public Health objection did not count

The minutes say the licensing officer told the hearing that, “following legal advice”, Public Health’s representation “had been withdrawn from consideration as it was not a valid representation for the purposes of the Gambling Act 2005”.

Only certain bodies can object to a gambling licence as a “responsible authority”. They are listed in section 157 of the Act. The list includes the police, the fire service, the planning authority and the Gambling Commission. Public health teams are not on it.

That left one valid objection, from the resident, who did not attend. The police, ward councillors and other responsible authorities did not object.

What the councillors weighed

The resident’s letter raised:

• the number of gambling premises already in Edgware
• the risk to children and vulnerable people
• the arcade drawing crime and disorder
• the effect on the character of the area and its regeneration

The sub-committee said Gambling Commission guidance rules out demand, competition and whether an area already has enough gambling premises as reasons to refuse. It said regeneration and alternative uses for the shop were planning and commercial matters it could not consider.

The minutes quote the guidance’s “aim to permit” duty, under which councils use conditions “to moderate its impact on the licensing objectives rather than by starting out to prevent it altogether”. The sub-committee found the application consistent with section 153 and approved it.

On hours, councillors “sought reassurance” that late-night opening would not cause crime and disorder. They noted the planning permission limits opening to between 7am and 2am, and “encouraged” the applicant to keep within those hours. The minutes also say the applicant “has never been the subject of a Licence review or had any regulatory issues raised by the Gambling Commission”.

The conditions

Four conditions are mandatory for every adult gaming centre: no under-18s, no direct access to other gambling premises, ATMs placed away from the machines, and no alcohol during gambling.

The other seven, agreed with the Metropolitan Police, cover:

• CCTV to Home Office standards, kept for 31 days and covering every entrance, all public areas and the machines
• a Think 25 age check, accepting only photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or PASS card
• Think 25 signs on display
• a magnetic lock on the main door that ground-floor staff can operate
• an intruder alarm with a panic button
• an incident log of crimes, complaints, refusals, banned customers, CCTV faults, official visits and Challenge 25 refusals

The Golders Green application

The second hearing that day, on Merkur Slots’ application for 867 Finchley Road in Golders Green, is still listed as cancelled on the council’s meeting calendar. It gives no reason and no new date.

Councillors refused Merkur planning permission for that unit on 14 October. Barnet Full Council later declared a gambling harms emergency, urging the government to remove the “aim to permit” duty.

What it means for you

• The licence stands unless someone appeals. The applicant, or anyone who made a valid representation, can appeal to the magistrates’ court within 21 days of receiving the decision notice, the minutes say.
• Concerns after opening go to a review. Under section 197 of the Act, a responsible authority or someone living nearby can ask the council to review a gambling licence if problems arise.