A leading councillor said the district authority is on the side of ‘angry’ residents who do not want a new gaming centre in Spalding.
Residents were upset about the decision to let Merkur Slots win a bingo premises licence for the former Dorothy Perkins shop in Hall Place.
South Holland District Council cabinet member Gary Taylor said the decision was a ‘blow’ – but retains hope that the separate decision in September to reject planning permission will be upheld.
If Merkur cannot win this appeal – to be heard by a planning inspector – it won’t be able to open in the former Dorothy Perkins, even though it has its licence.
Coun Taylor pointed to the fact that the authority’s own economic and heritage officers opposed the planning application and said: “Clearly people will be upset and angry about this.
“The council are not going around trying to encourage this application, it’s coming from the applicant.
“We are doing what we can. It’s out of our hands now. There’s a bit of hope that the inspector agrees with the decision to refuse the…
