Apparently nothing. What used to be Harrison Ingram Estate Agents in Blackheath Standard is applying to be turned into a Betting Shop. And guess what? It’s three doors down from Ladbroke’s.
Estate Agents are defined as “use case A2”, which is for “Financial and professional services”. Here’s how “use classes” are supposed to work – it looks to me as though a change of use from Estate Agents to Betting Shop is viewed as quite normal, which makes me unsure as to whether to laugh or cry.
I don’t know what the best plan of action is against this, but I’d like to read your thoughts in the comments below. Please also look at the many posts on this subject on the Deptford Dame’s pages – some positive news too.
So what can you do?
See how to object to license changes on Greenwich Council’s site.
Contact your local councillors for Blackheath & Westcombe Ward, who are:
- Geoffrey Brighty (Conservative) email geoffrey.brighty at greenwich.gov.uk or phone 07507 859 205)
- Alex Grant (Labour) alex.grant at greenwich.gov.uk or phone 020 8855 7292)
- Alex Wilson (
LabourConservative) email alex.wilson at greenwich.gov.uk or phone 07783 611 607)
And tell them that you think it’s a crappy idea. Ask them whether they think it’s good for the area to increase the number of betting shops.
Then email licensing@greenwich.gov.uk writing along the following guidelines:
Apparently your representation must:
* Mention issues that relate to one or more of the four licensing objectives –
1. Protection of children from harm
2. Prevention of crime and disorder
3. Public safety
4. Prevention of public nuisance
* Describe precisely how you think the premises concerned are or would be contravening the licensing objective concerned
* Relate specifically to the premisses concerned
* Contain your name and address
* Reach the Council no later than the last date for representations given in the Licensing Applications list
* State that you wish for a named councillor to represent you at the hearing if you have spoken to your ward councillor about this.
God knows how you crowbar those points into your complaint, but please copy your email into the comments below, so that others can use it for reference.
Good luck with finding the application on Greenwich Council’s licensing pages… I couldn’t. Below is the full text from the application (typed by me, so please excuse typos – hyperlinks are mine).
GREENWICH COUNCIL
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENSE UNDER THE GAMBLING ACT 2005
175 Deptford High Street
London
SE8 3NUis applying for a Betting (Other) Premises License under section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005.
The application relates to the following premises:McDonnells Bookmakers
174 Westcombe Hill
Blackheath
London SE3 7DHThe application has been made to: London Borough of Greenwich, Community Safety & Integrated Enforcement, 11th Floor, Riverside House, Woolwich High Street, London, SE18 6DN
Information about the application is available from the licensing authority, including the arrangements for viewing the details of the application.
Any of the following person may make representations in writing to the licensing authority about the application
* A person who live sufficiently close to the premises and is likely to be affected by the authorised activities
* A person who has business interests that might be affected by the authorised activities
* A person who represents someone in any of the above two categoriesAny representations must be made by the following date: 2 October 2011
It is an offense under section 342 of the Gambling Act 2005 a person, without reasonable excuse, gives to a licensing authority for a purpose connected with that Act information which is false or misleading.
London Borough of Greenwich, Community Safety & Integrated Enforcement, 11th Floor, Riverside House, Woolwich High Street, London, SE18 6DN
Here’s the estate agents rental page (don’t think it’s still on the market?) – PDF version here.
PS: Yes, I did speak too soon.
Licensed under a 
The Blackheath Bugle 