Plans to open a 24-hour gaming centre in Barrow have been branded as totally unacceptable by the town council.
Barrow Town Council said in a planning consultation that it had material objections to the proposed Admiral Casino on Dalton Road.
Plans were lodged in July by Luxury Leisure to convert the former Shoe Zone into a 24-hour Admiral-operated adult gaming centre, which would create 12 jobs.
It said opening hours at the proposed casino were critical to providing a commercially sensitive operation and would make a positive contribution to town centre viability.
However Barrow Town Council said it believed the proposed gaming centre would be detrimental to the town.
It said: “The facility will give rise to the level of anti-social behaviour in the town centre which consequently will put a strain on the work of the police who have stated due to lack of resources they will be unable to provide sufficient cover.
“The town of Barrow is classed as an area of deprivation. The town council believe such a facility would be detrimental to the well being of the town and its residents.”
The firm claimed 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.
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.”
Cumbria Constabulary previously said the neighbourhood policing team believed the 24-hour operation did not support its efforts to address anti-social behaviour in the area.
The force said: “Due to the ongoing disruption and harmful impact on normal business activity in the area the neighbourhood policing team (NPT) is very concerned regarding the applicant’s proposed trading hours.”
The neighbourhood policing team added it was seeking council support to put a restriction on the trading hours.
It added: “The NPT 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 NPT also points out that granting this approval will set a precedent that may have long term implications on local policing resources, i.e. a cumulative effect of other premises being permitted to open 24/7.”
The planning statement says the former Shoe Zone has been empty for over a year and the proposed adult gaming centre would sustain the use of a high street premises that is at risk of long-term vacancy.
According to the applicant, 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 says: “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.”
Planning documents submitted by the applicant also look to address potential concerns relating to noise from the site.
Plans said sound insulation was 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 also states there are 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 application is being considered by Westmorland and Furness Council.
