North Tyneside Council's Labour administration has welcomed plans from Prime Minister Andy Burnham to give local authorities more powers to reject applications for gambling venues, including slots casinos. The move follows the council's planning committee decision to reject a bid for a gambling arcade in the Collingwood Centre, which was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate. A separate gambling permit for Luxury Leisure's application was later approved by the council's licensing sub-committee.
Controversial approval sparks outrage
The proposals sparked outrage from the public and public officials from the start. 130 residents objected to the initial planning application in 2025, and Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell also wrote to the council to reject the plans. New Government plans include revoking the 'aim to permit' rule, which makes it difficult for councils to reject applications for new betting venues.
Council leader's response
A Labour group spokesperson said: “North Tyneside Labour has been clear that local communities should have a real say over what opens on their doorstep. The 24-hour gambling venue in North Shields showed exactly why the law needs to change.”
Sir Alan Campbell MP said: “I welcome a new approach. The Prime Minister knows first-hand, as a former Mayor, the concerns about high streets and about gambling establishments. I am sorry that the law wasn’t strong enough to stop the bid for a slots casino in North Shields, even though residents, the Council and I, as the local MP, opposed it.”
Conservative group's view
The leader of the council’s Conservative group, councillor John Johnsson, added: “If the law is now being strengthened, good. We welcome it. But taking action now doesn’t rewrite what happened in Preston Grange: when residents needed someone to fight their concern, we did – while Labour nodded their head and voted it through anyway.”
Luxury Leisure was approached for comment. At the venue’s licensing hearing on March 31, Luxury Leisure defended its application for an Admiral casino in the Collingwood Centre, ultimately resulting in a gambling permit being approved. The firm provided councillors with an independent security report from Leveche Associates, which stated: “We have found Admiral provides excellent well managed and high quality venues for its patrons in a safe and professional environment, there was no evidence of drug taking, excessive noise, criminality of other anti-social behaviour or customers being drunk or intoxicated.”
Speaking on behalf of the application, KC Paul Greaney said there was “no doubt that Luxury Leisure is a serious and responsible business”, which would strictly adhere to licensing objectives. Councillors were also informed that a variety of methods would be imposed to ensure safe operation, including a challenge 25 ID requirement and staff training to spot signs of vulnerability or problem betting.
