Merkur Slots refused permission for 24 hour opening at Spalding site

An adult gaming centre’s bid to open 24 hours a day has been refused.

South Holland District Council has rejected Merkur Slots application to lift current restrictions which keep the site in Hall Place, Spalding, closed between the hours of midnight and 8am.

Planning officers, using delegated powers, have refused the application on the grounds that the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the noise impact would be acceptable for nearby residents.

The gambling firm’s initial application to open up in the former Dorothy Perkins site created outcry in the town and was initially refused planning permission by the district council but this decision was later overturned by the planning inspectorate following an appeal in 2022.

The decision notice states: “The site relates to existing business premises and it is advised that the extended hours of use will generate employment, to which moderate weight is attached.

“However, this must be balanced against the effect of noise on residential occupiers, and it has not been demonstrated that the noise impact of the proposed development would be acceptable beyond the permitted hours, the benefit of the proposal would therefore not outweigh the harm.

“Although a licence has been granted for the extended hours the planning application has to be considered on its individual planning merits and whilst the lack of objection from the Environmental Protection Officer is acknowledged this does not mean there would be no planning harm arising from the proposal.”

The noise assessment submitted with the application included case studies from other Merkur sites which found that people left alone or in pairs.

And it concluded that the site was used for the 24-hour use and included a worst case scenario of using three patrons standing outside talking.

The decision notice states: “However, the findings in the NA (noise assement) are on the assumption that there would be no more than three patrons entering and leaving the premises at any one time.

“Larger groups of four people or more would create more noise, on which the NA is silent. Indeed, of the six venues on which the case studies were based, show several occasions where more than three patrons were entering or leaving the premises. Moreover, individuals smoking or vaping outside may also watch media or mobile devices, the NA has not considered these matters.”