Nuttall backs council betting shop veto

UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall is backing calls for council powers to veto new betting shops.

The Local Government Association is pushing for an end to clustering of betting shops and also wants a reduction in the risks of fixed-odds betting terminals.

North-West MEP Mr Nuttall said: “There are 30,000 such machines — the so-called crack cocaine of gambling — in this country, allowing punters to spend £100 in 20 seconds.”

In April Oldham Council signed a joint submission to the Government under the Sustainable Communities Act, asked for more council control over where and when betting shops can open.

The move would require bookies to get special planning permission, similar to the rules for casinos and nightclubs. There are currently 38 betting shops in Oldham, including eight in the town centre alone.