The amusements arcade will become a betting shop Pic: Tony Worrall

A new betting shop has been allowed under appeal to be created in Preston city centre.

The Leisuretime Amusements shop facing onto the Flag Market is to become a Coral bookmakers.

Advertisements

Preston City Council’s planning committee had refused the plans in April but Coral appealed the decision.

A planning inspector has now approved Coral’s appeal.

Councillors had argued there as an over-concentration of betting shops, there are eight near the Market Place, threatened the “economic viability of the heart of Preston.”

The Inspector’s report outlines while this may be so it is not a valid reason for refusal.

Coral had also applied to have all its costs in the planning process paid for by the city council, as it said there was no basis for refusing its application.

The Inspector did not agree with Coral’s argument and said councillors were within their rights to refuse it.

What do you think? Are there too many betting shops in the city centre? Let us know in the comments below