Plans to open a betting shop next to a youth centre and hostel have been ditched following objections.
Coral Racing Ltd has withdrawn an application to turn the empty Horizon Electronics shop in Station Road, Hayes into a Coral bookmakers.
However, today (Monday, January 5) the company said it had not ruled out resubmitting its application.
A spokesman said: “The council received objections to the proposed application, and being a responsible operator, we took the decision to withdraw the application for now, and instead we will be looking to engage with those parties behind the objections, to establish what exactly their concerns are and how we can address them, after which we will make a decision on whether or not to proceed as originally planned.”
The plans had been criticised by various community groups as some felt the betting shop – which would be Hayes Town's 11th – might tempt vulnerable youngsters living at the nearby YMCA, also on Station Road.
David Brough, chairman of Hayes Town Partnership, said: “It is great that Coral’s seem to have realised that they were facing a fight in trying to get a licence for yet another betting shop in Hayes, especially at such a sensitive location.”
However, on learning that the withdrawal may not be final, he added: “We will continue to maintain our opposition. It's totally in the wrong place and inappropriate.
“We are firmly of the view that this is just not right. I don't see that there is going to be anything that will convince us otherwise.”
The company submitted its original application in September, but formal objections were quickly lodged.
At a meeting called by Hayes Town Partnership, the objections were supported by Hayes YMCA, local churches and faith groups, a GP from the nearby Orchard Practice, the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce and Botwell ward councillors.
In response, Hillingdon Council's licensing committee postponed a meeting to discuss the application from October 2014 to January 2015.
Mr Brough said: “58 Station Road is virtually next door to the Hayes Young People’s Centre and the YMCA hostel, which is home to many vulnerable youngsters. Working together with a range of concerned local groups we had put together some very strong arguments in readiness for the meeting of the licensing committee in January. It now seems that this will not be needed, but we will be on the lookout for any more licence applications for premises that might cause equal concerns.”
