West London Tube Station to Welcome 24/7 Gambling Shop: Decision Expected Soon

Bianca Jagger has once again voiced her strong opposition to the proposal of a 24-hour gambling establishment being established directly across from Earl’s Court Tube Station. The renowned human rights advocate and former spouse of Mick Jagger emphasised the need to “protect children in the local area from harm” rather than exposing them to potential dangers.

Silvertime Amusements, which currently operates a venue on Earl’s Court Road, is seeking authorisation to relocate to a more spacious site on the same street. If granted approval, the existing location would transition to the former Lloyd’s Bank building situated opposite the Tube station. The current premises at 169 Earl’s Court Road would cease operations should the new licence be awarded. This application has faced significant opposition from the local community, garnering 346 objections. A previous planning application for the proposed site was rejected in April of this year.

Community Concerns Highlighted by Local Councillors

On Wednesday, Councillor Linda Wade, who serves the Earl’s Court area, addressed Kensington and Chelsea’s Licensing Sub-Committee, advocating for the application to be denied in order to safeguard children and vulnerable individuals. She remarked, “This is the wrong location for this business and would be detrimental, failing to protect children and the vulnerable from being harmed and exploited, while also hindering efforts to prevent gambling from becoming a source of crime or disorder.” All three councillors representing Earl’s Court, along with local MP Joe Powell and eight residents’ associations, have expressed their objections to the licensing proposal.

Dr Kleinman, a long-standing resident of the area, also contributed to the sub-committee’s discussions, stating that there was no community support for the application. “I believe this application poses a threat to Earl’s Court residents, and I would not be here if I did not consider this a critical issue for the community,” he asserted.

Arguments for Relocation Presented by Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel Andrew Woods, representing Silvertime at the hearing, contended that his client has successfully operated at its current location for a decade without any problems. He argued that relocating to 177-179 on the bustling London road would offer improved facilities and an increase in the number of gambling machines. “This applicant has traded a few doors down for ten years and has adhered to licensing objectives. There have been no complaints related to the Gambling Act during that time,” he explained.

Mr Woods also confirmed that the applicant would be appealing the council’s planning refusal. If the licence is granted, gambling machines would be confined to the ground floor of the new premises, which would host around 40 machines, a rise from the 26 currently available at the existing site. Silvertime, which operates multiple shops across the city, stated that the average number of machines in their venues is 45. Furthermore, the applicant assured that an SIA trained security guard would be present at the entrance at all times, along with CCTV monitoring.

Awaiting the Committee’s Decision

A public announcement regarding the committee’s decision on the licensing application has yet to be made, but it is anticipated in the coming week. For those with stories or insights to share, contact Katherine Gray at katherine.gray@reachplc.com. Additionally, for more updates from MyLondon, consider subscribing to our daily newsletters to stay informed on the latest developments across the capital.