An open letter to Secretary of State for Local Government Eric Pickles MP:

I am writing to you regarding the growth of betting shops in the borough of Harrow and ask that your department grants councils extra powers to help protect our local communities.

Over the past few years, Harrow has seen a growth in the number of betting shops in the area, especially along our high streets.

We recognise that betting shops are not inherently a bad thing and we would not wish to demonise anyone who uses a betting shop. However, we are extremely concerned about their expansion across Harrow.

The South Harrow and Wealdstone areas have seen a real rise in anti-social behaviour around betting shops.

At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, it is simply not right that betting shops are expanding at this rate; drawing vulnerable people in and making it even harder for some residents to break the vicious cycle of spiralling debts.

At the moment, local people and councils do not have the power to stop new betting shops from opening. This means we are powerless to stop the spread of betting shops and stop the damage being done to our communities.

I am therefore asking if you could please support a proposal submitted under the Sustainable Communities Act by Hackney Council and supported by a cross-party group of 62 other councils, the Local Government Association, the Mayor of London and the Greater London Assembly. This proposal is for betting shops to be placed in their own use class.

This would allow local people to have a say over whether a new betting shop is needed in an area; allowing residents to have a say in how their community develops and changes.

Councillor David Perry

Labour Group Leader,

Harrow Borough Council