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Council action on Dunbartonshire betting shop concern | Council action on Dunbartonshire betting shop concern |
(about 17 hours later) | |
The council with Scotland's highest concentration of betting shops is to use new powers to limit the number of new premises in town centres. | The council with Scotland's highest concentration of betting shops is to use new powers to limit the number of new premises in town centres. |
West Dunbartonshire Council planning chairman Lawrence O'Neill said a "presumption against" new shops meant they would probably be rejected. | West Dunbartonshire Council planning chairman Lawrence O'Neill said a "presumption against" new shops meant they would probably be rejected. |
He accused betting shops "of feeding on the vulnerable". | He accused betting shops "of feeding on the vulnerable". |
But an industry spokesman said it was heavily regulated and the number of shops had fallen in recent years. | But an industry spokesman said it was heavily regulated and the number of shops had fallen in recent years. |
Traditionally, bookmakers have been able to open up at a premises previously occupied by businesses such as banks, on the grounds they provided a financial service. | Traditionally, bookmakers have been able to open up at a premises previously occupied by businesses such as banks, on the grounds they provided a financial service. |
Councils are about to get new powers, previously approved through a legislative amendment by MSPs at Holyrood, which will allow them to consider future betting shop applications purely on their individual merits. | Councils are about to get new powers, previously approved through a legislative amendment by MSPs at Holyrood, which will allow them to consider future betting shop applications purely on their individual merits. |
Asked if he thought the betting shop industry was targeting less well-off areas, Mr O'Neill said places like Clydebank, which has 13 bookmaker shops, had a higher level of multiple deprivation. | Asked if he thought the betting shop industry was targeting less well-off areas, Mr O'Neill said places like Clydebank, which has 13 bookmaker shops, had a higher level of multiple deprivation. |
He told the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme: "To say it would be feeding on the vulnerable, yeah - that's my opinion." | He told the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme: "To say it would be feeding on the vulnerable, yeah - that's my opinion." |
On the issue of future betting shop applications in West Dunbartonshire - which has the highest number of betting shops per head of population in Scotland - Mr O'Neill said he was not opposed to them outright. | On the issue of future betting shop applications in West Dunbartonshire - which has the highest number of betting shops per head of population in Scotland - Mr O'Neill said he was not opposed to them outright. |
He said: "Each and every one will be taken on its merits. | He said: "Each and every one will be taken on its merits. |
"The likelihood is, given the policy we have in place currently and the legislation in terms of the amendment, the likelihood is that they wouldn't be granted within town centres." | "The likelihood is, given the policy we have in place currently and the legislation in terms of the amendment, the likelihood is that they wouldn't be granted within town centres." |
Bob's story | Bob's story |
Bob is a recovering gambling addict. What began with the odd bet on football and horseracing led to something more serious. | Bob is a recovering gambling addict. What began with the odd bet on football and horseracing led to something more serious. |
"Gambling became my be-all and end-all, he said, adding: "It was the most important thing in my life." | "Gambling became my be-all and end-all, he said, adding: "It was the most important thing in my life." |
Speaking anonymously to BBC Scotland, he recalled: "I ran my own business at the time and I should have been there from eight in the morning. But I hadn't left work until six o'clock that morning. | Speaking anonymously to BBC Scotland, he recalled: "I ran my own business at the time and I should have been there from eight in the morning. But I hadn't left work until six o'clock that morning. |
"I'd go home and sleep till 12 in the day and at 12 o'clock I'd go straight to the bookmakers again and I'd be there till closing or until I lost my money. | "I'd go home and sleep till 12 in the day and at 12 o'clock I'd go straight to the bookmakers again and I'd be there till closing or until I lost my money. |
"Then I'd go back to work and work through the night and the same routine constantly perpetuated itself." | "Then I'd go back to work and work through the night and the same routine constantly perpetuated itself." |
Bob sought help after being overcome with guilt and remorse at not having the money to by his mother a birthday present, and has not gambled for some time. | Bob sought help after being overcome with guilt and remorse at not having the money to by his mother a birthday present, and has not gambled for some time. |
Donald Morrison, from the Association of British Bookmakers in Scotland, said the organisation would work with government and councils to make sure the regulations were applied responsibly. | Donald Morrison, from the Association of British Bookmakers in Scotland, said the organisation would work with government and councils to make sure the regulations were applied responsibly. |
He added: "Betting shops open in busy commercial areas that have high footfall and strong demand and, like any sector, where's demand, there's competition." | He added: "Betting shops open in busy commercial areas that have high footfall and strong demand and, like any sector, where's demand, there's competition." |
Mr Morrison said that since the financial crash, bookmakers had moved into empty town centre locations, contributing business rates and creating jobs. | Mr Morrison said that since the financial crash, bookmakers had moved into empty town centre locations, contributing business rates and creating jobs. |
He added: "Despite the perception that bookies have actually proliferated, the actual numbers of bookmakers in Scotland and across the UK has been in decline in recent years. | He added: "Despite the perception that bookies have actually proliferated, the actual numbers of bookmakers in Scotland and across the UK has been in decline in recent years. |
"In the last two years or so we've lost 300 shops across the UK, including dozens in Scotland, many of them small operators. | "In the last two years or so we've lost 300 shops across the UK, including dozens in Scotland, many of them small operators. |
"Nevertheless we're an industry that contributes £110m a year to the economy." | "Nevertheless we're an industry that contributes £110m a year to the economy." |
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