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Appeal for 24hr Merkur Slots in Bolton venue dismissed over concerns
Bolton Council refused the scheme for a 24-hour “adult gaming centre” on Newport Street in the town centre.
The application was submitted by gaming company MERKUR Slots who said they believed the venue would bring benefits to the town.
They said that the plan would bring investment, create new jobs and provide a new leisure venue for local people.
But town planners were concerned the area “already has a disproportionately high number of adult gambling establishments”, noting the proposed venue would be right next to a betting shop and opposite another adult gaming centre.
MERKUR Slots appealed the Council’s refusal of the plan to The Planning Inspectorate, who visited the site on October 29.
Inspector Andreea Spataru said the main issue was the effect the new gaming centre would have on the “vitality and viability of Bolton town centre”.
Ms Spataru said it was located on a pedestrianised street that “provides an important link between the Bolton Bus Interchange and Victoria Square”.
She said the council’s strategy plan sets out a desire to “maintain a vibrant mix of uses” in the town centre with “an emphasis on renewal and improvement”.
This aims to achieve “high quality floor space” and “the expansion of restaurants, food-orientated public houses, and financial and professional services”.
Ms Spataru said the “prominent location” of the building means it “plays an important role” in delivering the council’s objectives.
She said: “The site lies on a section that already accommodates several adult gaming centres and betting shops.
“The proposed adult gaming centre would operate on the same basis as these neighbouring units, restricting access exclusively to adults and prohibiting entry to anyone under 18.
“Consequently, family groups, teenagers, and children would be directly excluded.”
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She said the conversion plan would “further consolidate an existing cluster of adult-only premises” and the planning framework emphasises “the importance of diversity and inclusivity in maintaining vitality and viability”.
Ms Spataru said that although the applicant argued there will “still be a healthy proportion of retail uses” this would not justify another adults-only unit on a street where there is “a clearly defined strategy” to provide retail spaces that are open to all.
She said she was made aware of an application for another adult gaming centre in the area which was approved.
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But she said this unit was smaller and had previously been used as a betting shop.
Mr Spataru found the proposal to conflict with the development plan and dismissed the appeal.
A MERKUR Slots spokesperson said: “We are looking at opportunities and will work with local authorities.”
