The old Woolwich bank next to Barclays on London Road North Cheam is set to become a Coral betting shop in a few weeks time. (Sorry I know this is North Cheam but I though it might still be intersting...) Work began on the site a few days ago should be finished in a few weeks.
It seems odd that we need a Coral here as we already have
one in Central Road and there’s another one further up London Road on Stonecot
Hill.
According to one of the gentlemen who was working on the
premises, all the other betting shops will now open branches in North Cheam
too. He said it always happens like that - he has seen it many times. So now we
will probably see William Hill, Paddy Power, Stan James, Betfred all pop up around
there. What are the odds it won’t enhance North Cheam?Update (31st July)
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| New shop in North Cheam - looking remarkable similar to the one in Central Road (directly above). |
6 COMMENTS (Add Yours Now!):
This is why the planning regulations need to be changed. Betting shops are currently classed as 'financial services' and therefore can take over old banks and building societies without having to apply for permission. There are many other types of business that would be good for the local community but they would have to jump through hoops to get the usage changed for their purposes. A betting shop can just walk straight in there though ... I'm not aware of any other vacant bank/building society premises in North Cheam so the others should find it more difficult to set up here. I've just had an 'invitation to a public consultation on North Cheam' through my door - looks like the Council has some good ideas but it's a shame they're powerless to stop this development though. I don't think people realise how much damage betting shops (and in particular their fixed odds betting terminals) can do to a local community. How much more positive a credit union or financial advice service would be in that location ...
Good - I can place a bet on Victoria House still standing in 2050.
What businesses are you talking about, if they are retail they can take their pick of units in North Cheam. If not the planning Authority will look sypathetically on their application - your argument does not hold water and amounts to little more than a baseless rant....
Surely something this is better than nothing! A decaying horrible wooden facia is awful and there are too many places like it. Betting shop or not I would rather see a High Street populated as opposed to a load of old run down buildings. I think we need to focus more on Victoria House that has been like that for the majority of my existence! It's an eye sore and putting that 'artwork' on the outside has made it a damn site worse. Appreciate this is a Worcester Park blog, but I would like nothing more than for all our empty shops, in Worcester Park and North Cheam to be filled. It would bring the area up no end.
OMG! ... Betting shops really ARE classed as 'financial services' . (A2 financial services as I've just checked...whatever that means) and really do get favourable treatment. I'm quite surprised to lean this.
However, over the last 5 years, there's been plenty of other "financial services" in the high street doing their best to damage local communities..... Let's start with Barclays, NatWest, HSBC........... etc......etc...... (other local community wreckers are available)......
I'll take you on Lord Cynic.... I'll place a bet that it gets demolished next year......................and that it's still an ugly pile of rubble in 2050 ;)
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