Police are concerned about plans for a 24-hour gaming centre in Barrow because there is already persistent anti-social behaviour in the area.
Plans have been lodged to open the Admiral Casino in the former Shoe Zone store on Dalton Road, creating 12 jobs.
Cumbria Constabulary has been consulted on the proposals by Westmorland & Furness Council as part of the planning process.
The force said the 24-operation of the centre would not support their efforts to address anti-social behaviour in the area.
Luxury Leisure is behind the plan and said the opening hours were critical to provide a commercially sensitive operation and make a positive contribution to town centre viability.
It said: “Admiral units do not serve alcohol, nor do they allow the consumption of alcohol on site. This helps to mitigate the potential for anti-social behaviour and thus further prevent adverse impacts on residential amenity.”
It added that there was no evidence that the proposed adult gaming centre would contribute additional anti-social behaviour in the area and said it would help diversify the evening economy of the town.
But Cumbria Constabulary said: “Due to the ongoing disruption and harmful impact on normal business activity in the area the neighbourhood policing team is very concerned regarding the applicant’s proposed trading hours.”
The neighbourhood team added it was seeking council support to put a restriction on the trading hours.
The response added: “The team contend that permitting the adult gaming centre to operate 24/7 does not support their efforts to address anti-social behaviour – and will bring persons to an area where there is no other 24-hour commercial activity.
“The team also points out that granting this approval will set a precedent that may have long term implications on local policing resources, ie a cumulative effect of other premises being permitted to open 24/7.”
The former Shoe Zone has been empty for over a year and the firm said the gaming centre would sustain the use of a high street premises that was at risk of long-term vacancy.
It said the proposed gaming centre would generate additional footfall in the town centre with survey data and evidence from other Admiral-operated sites suggesting that visits contribute to the success of other surrounding retailers through linked trips.
The planning statement added: “The proposed centre would therefore have positive benefits to the wider town centre through bringing visitors into the town centre who would likely use other local services and facilities.”
The applicant said concerns relating to noise from the site would be addressed as sound insulation is used within all premises to shield surrounding occupiers from any noise and any music played within the premises is always at a background level.
The planning statement added there were no residential properties within a range of the site which could be impacted by noise.
Plans added: “This area of the town centre already has a number of late-night activities such as bars and restaurants. Any noise generation associated with the proposed centre must be seen in this context and, regardless, any noise and disturbance associated with the proposed use would be significantly less than that associated with other evening economy type uses.”
The planning application is undergoing public consultation.
