Residents in the North East have expressed support for government plans to tighten controls on vape and gambling shops, following an announcement earlier this week. The proposals, unveiled on Monday, 11 August, would give councils more powers to restrict new betting venues and vape shops, including requiring special permission for vape shops to open in England and stronger powers to reject 24-hour slot casinos.
Public Reaction in Newcastle
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to people in Newcastle to gather their views. Thomas Dean, 78, of Widdrington, said: “I fully agree with what they [the government] are doing.” He added: “It will bring back the high street beauty people don’t want to go into the high street because of them. It puts me off going anywhere near them.”
Dean also commented on gambling: “Gambling is a curse. I did it when I was a young man on the horses, and I soon found out it was a road to nowhere. I would rather see a row of empty or closed shops than places taking advantage of people.”
Council and Resident Support
North Tyneside Council’s ruling Labour administration welcomed the plans, following controversy last year over the approval of a 24-hour slots casino in the Collingwood Centre in North Shields. Luxury Leisure's application was initially refused by the planning committee on public health grounds, but the refusal was later overturned after an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, according to LDRS reporting in October 2025.
Brenda and Michael McDonald, originally from Walkergate, agreed there were too many gambling establishments and vape shops. Michael said: “They should go back to how they used to do it, and there are far too many gambling terminals. They should open from 9 am to 6 pm and close, so you have to put a bet on before 6 pm. They want all your money, not just a bit of it; they want all of it.”
On vape shops, Brenda said: “Most of the vape shops that do close down open back up straight away as another vape shop. If you’re a smoker and trying to pack it in, I can see the dilemma.”
Concerns Over Vaping and High Streets
Newcastle native Colin Mutter, 82, said: “The number of young people you see vaping now, and they are too young to have smoked. I can see how they are an alternative; they’ve got nicotine in them, and it’s very addictive. And you don’t know what damage they are doing; there hasn’t been enough research.”
Marilyn Mutter, 69, added: “There are too many vape shops and too many gambling places, the high street is dead as it once was, when you had things like British Home Stores. [Gambling venues] They are places to put people into debt and have problems, and the vape shops are open so late.”
