Licence granted for 24-hour slot machine centre

The Merkur group has been granted a licence for an adult gaming centre on Sidwell Street in Exeter

A licence for a 24-hour adult gaming centre in a deprived city centre area has been granted despite concerns being raised.

Merkur Slots wants to build the centre for bingo and slot machines on Sidwell Street in Exeter.

A city councillor said the facility should not be allowed in an area with high deprivation and risked attracting vulnerable people.

Exeter City Council's licensing committee approved the application with conditions.

The licensing committee heard Sidwell Street was an area of high deprivation

Tammy Palmer, Liberal Democrat councillor for Duryard and St James, spoke against the plans at the meeting on Wednesday.

She said gambling was a major public health concern and said Merkur had not taken into account the high level of deprivation in the area.

The councillor said the number of hostels and supported living accommodation was far higher than in other wards and said she was concerned about how a 24-hour gaming centre might draw in vulnerable people.

She said: "I don't believe you have the best interests of our community at heart."

The chairman of the meeting, Labour councillor Martyn Snow, said the area had a "large street-attached population".

The licensing committee met at Exeter's Civic Centre

Gerald Gouriet KC, representing Merkur Slots at the meeting, refuted Ms Palmer's claims and said protection of vulnerable people and of children was at the forefront of Merkur's plans.

He said the company had a strict no-alcohol policy and staff had to go through rigorous training and would challenge anyone who looked under the age of 25 to provide identification.

Mr Gouriet said Merkur Slots, which operates sites across the country, had never had a licensing application refused.

Merkur already runs a 24-hour adult gaming centre on the other side of the city on Fore Street.

The licensing committee imposed a condition of Merkur installing and running CCTV covering the street in both directions for 25m (80ft).

Nick Wedgery said he regularly saw anti-social behaviour on Sidwell Street

Nick Wedgery, who owns the dry cleaning business CareClean on Sidwell Street, said there was regular and repeated anti-social behaviour in the area.

He said: "We've got enough issues already in this street.

"I think the bingo centre is only going to make the situation worse - especially as it's going to be 24 hours. It's just going to escalate the problems we already have."