Residents criticise plans for new adult gaming centre

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have criticised plans for a new adult gaming centre, claiming the high street is on a ‘downward spiral’.

Merkur Slots has put forward plans to open a new gambling centre in an empty retail unit in Eltham High Street in Greenwich.

Council documents said the new branch would be open for 24 hours a day and create 12 full-time jobs. The unit was previously occupied by a bank and has been empty since 2022.

The application received 62 objections from residents, with one concern claiming Eltham High Street was on a ‘downward spiral’.

Councillors Lauren Dingsdale and Sammy Backon said in an open letter to the authority’s planning department that they were ‘deeply concerned’ by the plans.

The councillors said: “Allowing planning permission for this premises would encourage vulnerable individuals to gamble more than they can afford. Gambling addiction is becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society, and the borough should be protecting vulnerable individuals.”

Council officers said that the proposal was regarding one unit on the high street and wider trends within the town centre could not be considered. They added that there were already three betting shops in Eltham Town Centre, which council officers considered not to be excessive and they felt the additional Merkur Slots branch would not result in any unacceptable impact on the amenity enjoyed by residents.

The application for the new adult gaming centre  will be considered at a planning meeting for Greenwich council on July 16.

An operational management plan was also reportedly included in the application, which claimed customers found loitering near the building would be asked to move on by staff. It also said individuals deemed to be drunk would not be allowed to enter the space.

The plan said: “A notice will be placed that is visible from the exterior of the premises stating that drinking of alcohol directly outside the premises is forbidden and that those who do so will be banned from the premises.”

Pictured top: Merkur Slots applied to open an adult gaming centre in a vacant unit on Eltham High Street (Picture: Google Street View)