The site in Holloway Road which is set to become a 24/7 Adult Gaming Centre and Paul Roseby [Craig Fulller]

“DEPRESSING” proposals for yet another gambling premises in Holloway have been slammed by neighbours and community groups who say they feel “powerless” to stop them springing up across the borough.

The Tribune reported last month that proposals for a new 24/7 “Adult Gaming Centre” gambling shop in Holloway Road, “Luxury Jackpot”, had ducked formal planning proposals and were instead going straight to licensing.

If slot machine company Cain’s Amusements Ltd are successful, it would become the seventh gambling premises in a stretch of road less than a mile long.

Over 250 objections to the premises were submitted to the council during a public consultation which closed last month. The issue is now expected to be heard at a licensing meeting in September.

Paul Roseby OBE, the CEO of the National Youth Theatre (NYT) based in Holloway Road, said the prospect of the shop opening in the former Barclay’s Bank was “really depressing”.

He told the Tribune: “I just don’t get it. I don’t get the benefit. I’ve been working in Holloway Road for well over 20 years and I feel there’s a real decline in the optimism and creativity that there once was here 20 years ago.

“The NYT offer so many free opportunities to local young people, including those in non-mainstream schools. So for example, someone who has just received a bursary from us could go down the road to a slot machine and get an immediate kick out of gambling. It’s not going to end well.”

Over 6,600 high-street banks have closed down nationally since 2016, indicative of a wider trend that is seeing retailers peel back from the high street.

Local authorities, Mr Roseby said, have an “ethical obligation” to ensure not only that these shops remain filled, but that what takes over from them are businesses that provide genuine benefit to the community.

“It breaks my heart, personally, to see the lack of imagination and leadership that allows something so destructive to open in an area that needs something that can offer a positive contribution to the community,” he added.

Data has shown that AGCs are predominantly clustered in areas with high levels of deprivation. The area surrounding this particular stretch of Holloway Road ranks as one of the most deprived areas of not just the borough, but the country.

Alex Grzankowski, a parent who lives “a stones throw away” from the proposed casino, told the Tribune: “As residents we are of course sympathetic to the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness, addiction or drug use.

“But to put a gambling shop where we have many of these pre-existing issues will only perpetuate this cycle of vulnerable people being preyed upon and put into bad positions.”

Mr Grzankowski added that an improper consultation process and lack of communication was allowing gambling companies to “operate from the shadows” and prevent strong community response.

“I feel really lucky that I had another parent in the same situation as me who was able to inform me of this issue, because I never received any consultation documents to my address,” Mr Grzankowski added.

“This is a stretch of Holloway Road that already is overwhelmed with vape shops, pawn shops and other gambling venues. To be honest, with the way it is going, it is a no-brainer to me that we can’t live here: I can’t bring my kids up around what is happening in this corner.”

Another local resident, Christy Lawrence, who lives on the Northview Estate, said: “There are already problems locally with crime, anti-social behaviour and money laundering linked to drug dealing in Islington.

“A 24-hour slot arcade will exacerbate all this.”

A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “Public participation is an important part of the licensing process, and we are committed to ensuring residents have the opportunity to make their views known.

“Under the Gambling Act 2005, the applicant was required to publish a notice in a local newspaper circulating in the area and display a public notice at the premises for at least 28 consecutive days. In addition, Islington Council carried out a resident letter drop.

“This was undertaken within the immediate area and is applied consistently to applications in addition to the statutory requirements.

“The council has received representations in relation to the application from local residents and responsible authorities, and it will be considered by a licensing sub-committee in September.”

Cain’s Amusement Limited was approached for comment but did not respond.