Gambling shop plan on 'bookies' row' criticised

Teams are currently completing new pedestrianised areas along Broadway in Bradford

Plans for a further betting shop on Bradford's "bookies' row" have been criticised by a civic society.

Jennings Bet has submitted an application to Bradford Council for the location on Broadway, with William Hill, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes all currently having stores on the street.

Discussing the potential addition of a further outlet, Bradford Civic Society's chairperson said he was concerned about the image it may give "to the outside world".

The betting firm, which has 180 locations across the country, said it made "good commercial sense" for them to take on the site.

The area, which also has an Admiral Casino Slots arcade, is being pedestrianised as part of a multi-million pound revamp of the city centre.

The shop unit is currently empty after landlords issued a possession notice on the property.

Simon Cunningham, society chair, said: "This application would mean that there would be five very similar gambling establishments in a consecutive row next to each other.

"You have to ask very serious questions about the sort of image that that presents to the outside world."

The shop unit is currently empty after its landlords issued a possession notice

He said the road was becoming "a bit of a bookies' row'", adding: "Most ordinary folk probably don't begrudge the odd gambling place in the city centre.

"But I think when you speak to people in Bradford, they want to see much more variety of shops and - certainly after five o'clock - more places to eat and drink as well."

The street has three separate betting shops and a slots arcade next to each other

Mr Cunningham acknowledged that, if approved, the shop would provide jobs and also revenue for the council through business rates.

Peter Jowett, Jennings Bet licensing manager, said: "For us it makes good commercial sense to take up this particular site - this is the location that betting shops customers come to.

"From the landlords' perspective it makes sense, they don't want an empty unit."

He said the gambling industry was a highly regulated industry which was sometimes unfairly stigmatised.

"It's been a cafe that hasn't worked and a bar that hasn't worked," he continued.

"This is an ideal opportunity for us and we do appreciate that it depends on planning permission and the correct premises licence."

Work to create new pedestrian and cycle routes along with green spaces started earlier this year as part of a £43m transport scheme ahead of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

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