Street's fifth betting shop 'promotes vitality'

Opening a fifth betting shop in a row on a street in Bradford city centre would "promote vitality" and be better than an empty unit, a bookmaker has claimed.

Last year Bradford Council refused planning permission for JenningsBet to open a branch on Broadway, saying it would turn the area into the city's "gambling quarter" and prevent people making "healthy and informed" decisions.

However, JenningsBet has appealed and said there is a "clear issue" with vacancy rates in Bradford.

According to a recent report, there are 257 vacant units in the city centre - about 26% of the total.

The appeal to HM Planning Inspectorate also said: "The change of use will activate the frontage and improve the vitality and viability of this primary retail street."

The company acknowledged there were five gambling premises within 164ft (50m) of the site - 18% of the total - a number that was considered to be "low".

The appeal also said of the rejection: "This will be significantly damaging to the vitality and viability of the city centre and primary shopping area due to the lack of footfall and spin-off linked trip spending benefits that come with low vacancy rates in a city centre location."

JenningsBet's appeal means the final decision will be made by a government planning inspector, rather than local councillors, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Referring to the public health concerns, the appeal papers added: "The increased exposure to gambling premises does not directly result in people having the inability to make unhealthy and poorly informed decisions."

It has also been announced that Bradford's City Library will be moving into the ground floor of Britannia House - directly opposite the row of betting shops.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.