Diane Abbott MP urges government to take action over struggling high-streets and rocketing number of betting shops

18 Jan 2012
Hackney MP Diane Abbott has responded to the Portas Review on the Future of British High Streets by highlighting the need for urgent action in Hackney.

The Portas Review, published on Tuesday 13 December, made 28 recommendations to help reinvigorate British high streets. One of the most striking of the recommendations is Portas’ support for presumption in favour of town centre development. This policy, which would see town-centres developed before out-of-town areas has been repeatedly called for by the Labour Party.

During a debate in Westminster, Labour's Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) welcomed the Mary Portas review, and spoke about one of its recommendations, which pertains to betting shops and the planning regulations that apply to them. Ms Abbott warned of the "scourge" of the "proliferation" of betting shops, stating that in Hackney there were approximately 90 such shops, three times the national average.

Hitting out at their "predatory nature", she said they targeted the poorest areas with the highest levels of unemployment and poverty. Ms Abbott backed Ms Portas' recommendation that such shops, should be put in a separate use class of their own for planning decisions.

Diane Abbott MP said

“It is absolutely appalling that so many town centre shops in Hackney are now empty. The Tory-led Government has completely failed to take action to support our high streets at a time when their economic policies are making the situation worse. Healthy and diverse high streets are the cornerstone of local communities, and people in Hackney must have their say.

‘The effects of the recession, flat-lining growth and low business confidence are making life harder for businesses on high-streets and the Government needs to take action to protect small traders and stop local traders going out of business.

Hitting out, specifically, at the proliferation of betting shops in Hackney, Diane Abbott MP said:

‘Hackney has around 90 bookies. Even the Old Town Hall has been turned into a betting shop. I do not have any moral objection to betting. Rather my concern is that these shops put little back into the community and can take advantage of areas with high levels of unemployment and poverty. They can also cause increased levels of crime including begging, drug crimes and burglaries.

‘Londoners are seeing their pubs, banks and independent shops close and bookies opening up in their place without the need for any planning permission. At a time when people in Hackney are hard pressed, people most need independent financial advice, yet they find virtual roulette wheels instead of a bank manager.

‘For too long we have seen great local amenities and iconic buildings being replaced by endless numbers of bookmakers. There are streets in London that look more like Las Vegas without any of the glitz or glamour.’

--ENDS--

1) Diane’s full speech in the debate is here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120117/debtext/120117-0002.htm
2) Labour’s ‘town centre first’ policy would prioritise local high streets and our Empty Shops initiative would help reduce the plague of empty shops afflicting many local communities. Both were recommended in the Portas review.
3) Labour has been calling for action to help struggling high streets and shops by promoting positive uses for empty shops, giving local people the power to shape retail plans for their area and introducing a competition test in the planning system. A temporary VAT cut, which we have called on the government to enact as part of Labour’s five point plan for jobs and growth, would also put £450 in the pocket of each family and would provide real help for high streets now.

For more info, please contact Gabe Trodd on 0207 219 4426

back ⇢