I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents, who were shocked to discover that an application for a 24-hour gambling licence had been granted for a vacant shop premises in Green Lanes in my constituency. Due to the fact that publication occurred during the most recent coronavirus period and they were legally permitted to leave their homes only for specific purposes, and because they did not have a local newspaper, residents did not become aware of the application until it was granted.
The petition states:
The petition of residents of the constituency of Enfield, Southgate,
Declares that the requirement to publish a notice of application for a gambling premises licence in local newspapers and to display a notice on the premises as required by Section 12 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licence and Provisional Statements) Regulations 2007 is wholly inadequate for bringing such applications to the attention of members of the public and as such is in urgent need of reform; further that no additional provisions were made for these requirements to take into account the fact that the public were legally required not to venture outside except for certain specified purposes during coronavirus lockdown restrictions which disadvantaged their ability to view such notices; and further that gambling premises licences granted during the coronavirus lockdown restrictions should be subject to a review.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to ensure that Section 12 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licence and Provisional Statements) Regulations 2007 and other associated legislation is urgently revised and gambling premises licences granted during the coronavirus lockdown restrictions be subject to a review.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
[P002653]