Concerns over plans for 24-hour adult gaming centre
BBCCommunity figures have raised concerns over plans for a 24-hour adult gaming centre in Leicester.
Merkur Slots UK has submitted a planning application to Leicester City Council to convert a former vape shop and dry cleaners in Evington Road into a gambling venue.
According to planning documents, the proposed centre would "support footfall and investment" in the area, as well as employ about 12 people.
Raffiq Mohammed, Labour city councillor for Stoneygate ward, said the area was one of the "most deprived" in the city, and added: "To put a gambling casino or gambling arcade in this area is asking people to part with money that they really haven't got."
Jane Russell, from the Evington Road Neighbourhood Association, said the proposals were "entirely inappropriate".
"Merkur Slots want it to be open 24/7 so that means people are going to be rocking up in the middle of the night, gambling essentially on these slot machines, in what is essentially a residential area," she added.
Mushtaq Dakri, from Spinney Hill Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction Support, added the organisation saw the "devastation" gambling addiction could cause.
"What our concerns are is that organisations or establishments like this in a residential area, children growing up seeing this on a daily basis, it normalises that behaviour," Dakri added.
Planning documents state noise levels at Merkur Slots' sites were "generally very low" and impacts on disturbance to surrounding areas were "effectively mitigated and minimal".
"Merkur Slots premises are popular among both males and females, and the customer base after midnight is predominantly the local entertainment workforce and shift workers who like to relax after their busy shifts," the plans state.
The company added, in a report submitted as part of the planning application, it had a "number of measures in place" to protect customers.
"Throughout the business Merkur Slots also has a number of socially responsible gambling tools, and management and training initiatives," it added.
Merkur Slots UK has been contacted for comment.
Leicester City Council states it aims to make a decision on the plans by 31 December.
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