Greg Smith [H&F Council deputy leader] said the betting shops "create jobs", but according to statistics from the Gambling Commission, in 2009 when there were 8,862 shops, 60,247 people were employed by the betting industry.
Now, with 9,067 shops, only 54,311 people are employed - a cut of more than 10%. More shops – fewer workers: the argument that the proliferation of betting shops is "creating jobs" doesn't stack up.
An elected representative shouldn’t wash his hands of a problem like this and pretend that the “free market” will solve it. The council is quite willing to intervene with drastic and expensive – and unpopular - measures to shape our community and high streets. Just ask the shopkeepers and stallholders in Shepherds Bush market, or the residents of the West Kensington Estate. Modern town centre revival schemes like the Mary Portas Pilots – which the council failed to qualify for - are what we should be looking at.
It’s about investing in what people want, and encouraging a healthy, vigorous high street economy. When a deputy council leader claims an area is so run down that the only firms who will occupy its empty shops are betting shops, pawnbrokers and payday loan companies, that is a sign of a council that has lost interest in looking after its residents.
Residents of Shepherds Bush and shoppers on the Uxbridge Road deserve something better than this “it’s better than nothing, beggars can’t be choosers” approach.
I believe betting shops should be put in their own use class - this is now Labour policy. But that won't deal with the present problem of clustering, only stop it getting any worse. The proliferation of betting shops is machine-driven, as each shop is limited by the Gambling Act to four highly addictive FOBTs per shop. Proper regulation is needed – and of course, an imaginative, enthusiastic approach to our high streets on the part of the council.
Andy Slaughter
Labour MP for Hammersmith
