You can read Sarah Sackman MP’s full letter below:

I am writing to formally object to the establishment of an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) at 4-6 North End Road, NW11 7PL.

As the Member of Parliament for Finchley and Golders Green I have spoken to residents from across my constituency who have shared their concerns about the rising number of gambling shops and AGCs on our high streets.

Currently, there are seven gambling venues within three hundred yards of the proposed site.

Golders Green does not need another one.

This planning applications aims to establish an AGC in the heart of Golders Green, a Conservation Area with a number of places of worship and schools in the vicinity, including one just seven hundred feet away. The decision to approve this application would therefore pose a risk of harm to children and other vulnerable persons.

Establishments of this kind also increase the risk of anti-social behaviour and crime and residents and I are concerned about the impact this will have on community cohesion and safety. Barnet must act to prevent gambling from being a source of crime and disorder.

The establishment of an Adult Gaming Centre on North End Road would directly go against the aims set out in the Barnet Local Plan (2021-2036) and the London Plan and threatens to undermine the character of this vibrant high street and feelings of community pride and safety.

It is clear that the establishment of a gambling venue at this site would be of no benefit to local residents and therefore objections raised by residents, councillors and I must be fully considered.

Yours sincerely,
Sarah Sackman KC MP
Member of Parliament for Finchley and Golders Green