Blackpool bingo licence approved

Cashino Gaming Ltd, which trades as Merkur Slots, had been refused a licence in July by Blackpool Council, but a second application offering tougher conditions has been successful.

A town hall licensing panel approved the licence for premises on Abingdon Street despite hearing from objectors who feared the business would attract anti-social behaviour to the area.

But a decision notice said: “Whilst the panel can understand the concerns expressed by those who have made representations, there is no evidence to show that the granting of this application will result in disorder in the area, had

there been such evidence they would have expected Lancashire Constabulary to have made a representation.”

A set of conditions attached to the licence includes that CCTV must be in operation and any incidents of crime or disorder must be logged.

Anyone who is drunk will be banned from entering, the premises must close at 1am and the licence holder must “take reasonable steps to prevent nuisance directly outside of the premises.”

However the company, which wants to install 58 machines into the premises, still requires planning permission for the scheme.

It has appealed against a decision by the council to refuse planning approval.