Betting shop turned down over 'vitality' fears

The company that runs Betfred applied to change the use of 150-152 High Street in Slough

A proposal to open a vacant unit in Slough's High Street as a betting shop has been turned down after a planning inspector said it could damage its "vitality".

Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Ltd, which trades as Betfred, had applied to change the use of 150-152 High Street from a shop to a bookmakers.

Slough Borough Council rejected its planning application on grounds that it would lead to a "clustering" of betting shops in the town centre. Planning inspector Alex Oyebade agreed and dismissed an appeal.

A Betfred spokesperson said: "Our plan was to relocate our current shop [at 264 High Street], improve the facilities for our customers and invest in the local area."

A council spokesperson said while it would have brought the unit back into use and brought some "vibrancy" to the town centre, that would not outweigh the "potential implications for public health and wellbeing".