Ladbrokes to open bookies on Abbey Manor

BOOKMAKERS Ladbrokes look set to open a bookies office on the Abbey Manor estate in Yeovil.

The company has submitted a planning application to South Somerset District Council to install signs at Unit 6 at The Forum.

Plan agent, Peter Hall, of Newport-based Drawline architectural design company, has said that Ladbrokes had taken the lease on Unit 6 which has previously been used as a community cafe.

But the proposals have already prompted one worried resident to write her concerns on the council’s on-line planning section.

The resident said she was ‘horrified’ after hearing that Ladbrokes were taking over a unit at The Forum on Abbey Manor.

‘’This will encourage gambling, especially in this harsh economic climate, is of great concern,’’ she said.

‘’As a local resident and parent, I want to make my strong objections known. Gambling is a great problem in our society and a Ladbrokes on Abbey Manor will not only attract gamblers from further afield, but also encourage the local residents, including young people, to get hooked into an addiction they or their families cannot afford.

‘’Debt and addictions are some of the major causes of family breakdown in our society. We do not want a betting office on Abbey Manor.’’

A spokesman for Ladbrokes was unavailable to comment this evening, but its website states that it takes its duty for responsible gambling very seriously.

‘’Gambling is an exciting adult leisure pursuit and, at Ladbrokes, we want our customers to enjoy betting and gaming with us,’’ a statement read on Ladbrokes website.

‘’We are committed to providing our customers with an efficient, secure, fair and socially responsible service. We therefore have in place a number of measures that we believe both assist and reassure customers.

‘’Gambling while under the age of 18 is a criminal offence and Ladbrokes takes its responsibilities to prevent access by Under-18s very seriously indeed.

‘’Appropriate age verification checks are carried out across all our businesses.’’

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