Tewkesbury MP calls for immediate crack down on betting and vape shops
Cameron Thomas says the prime minister needs to act now to save declining high streets
Cameron Thomas MP for Tewkesbury has praised the Prime ministers recent announcement to crack down on illicit businesses linked to organised crime, including vape and betting shops on the high street.
The new proposal is set to close loopholes and get rid of the 'aim to permit' rule. This rule says that local councils must default to approving an application of any new gambling venues.
Andy Burnham has said, ''For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.''
A new proposal scrapping the 'aim to permit' rule is set to come into place in the new year. However MP Cameron Thomas says more immediate action is needed.
He said, ''There is no denying the decline of our high streets, with many empty shop fronts now replaced by vape and gambling shops. I welcome the Prime Minister’s plan to curb these unwanted blights on our historic high streets.
Mr Burnham’s proposal is commendable, but setting the date back to the new year creates a loophole for applicants to take advantage of empty units on our streets before councils can clamp down on their activities.''