The Labour government has also brought in measures to restrict the opening of new vaping shops, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Gambling (credit Nik via Unsplash) — credit Nik via Unsplash

Barnet Council has welcomed new powers to block betting and vape shops from opening on the borough’s high streets.

During a meeting on Tuesday (21st) Labour councillor Emma Whysall said she was “proud” to promote a motion that demonstrated the Labour government “is taking action”.

The motion looks to make use of the borough’s new powers under the government’s ‘Pride in Place’ reforms. These reforms, which were introduced in September, are a response to the “proliferation of gambling outlets”, the motion stated.

The new programme gives councils more funding to help revitalise high streets and more power to regulate betting and vaping shops.

However, Barnet is not yet listed as one of the places set to receive funding.

Cllr Whysall said: “The government’s Pride in Place reforms will support the council to drive our high street towards a more sustainable future.

“Tackling the oversaturation of gambling establishments while making it easier for venues and groups to fill our communities with more street food and live music.”

However, Conservative councilor Sarah Wardle said: “This motion rests on flawed assumptions. Simply reducing or restricting betting shops or fast food outlets alone won’t revitalise our town centres.”

She said the council’s statistics showed “vagrancy rates continue to rise” but all the motion did was “ask the council to commission another report”.

Conservative councillor David Longstaff said at a recent Chipping Barnet meeting he attended “nobody mentioned fast food or the problems related to gambling”. He said all traders “really wanted” was the council “to not interfere with businesses”.

He called the council “interfering” with businesses “ironic” as it “can’t even manage to balance its own books”.

In response, Cllr Whysall said “lots of people” had raised concerns around gambling and betting shops.

She said: “After 14 years of nothing, it is great to see a government actually take action on our high streets, you wrecked the economy, we’re trying to rebuild it so support this motion.”

Labour councillor Philip Cohen welcomed the reforms, highlighting the power they gave people to purchase community assets such as pubs and parks when if they are put up for sale.

He said: “Nothing is more important than the health of our children and families and that links to what Healthier High Streets [a council scheme] focuses on, the kind of thing Amazon will never be able to offer us.”

Earlier in the meeting, Labour councillor Sue Baker asked whether the council was campaigning to “limit the number of fast food outlets” in the wake of the betting and gambling reforms.

Alison Moore, the council’s cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “To limit the number of fast food outlets, enabling us to start tackling the harms they create, requires further powers from local government and I for one am more than happy to lobby for that.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.