Update 6 March 2025:
A Hearing is being heard against the refusal of planning permission for the conversion of the old Barclays Bank on Church Road Ashford to an Adult Gaming centre
A Hearing is being heard against the refusal of planning permission for the conversion of the old Barclays Bank on Church Road Ashford to an Adult Gaming centre. This will take place in Council Chamber at the Council office in Knowle Green on 26 March 2025 and will start at 10am (for one day).
If you want to attend the hearing in person, please email planningdm@spelthorne.gov.uk in advance of the hearing with details including your name, email address and saying you are an interested party. If you are not able to come in person, you will be sent a team’s link so you can dial in to listen to the hearing.
If you wish to speak at the Hearing, you should make yourself known to the Inspector on the day as the Planning Inspectorate will not respond to requests to speak at the event in advance of the hearing.
Update:
An application has been made to Spelthorne Borough Council for, change of use of Barclays 39 Church Road Ashford TW15 2QF basement and ground floor from a vacant bank to, a BINGO HALL (24/00899/FUL).
Residents can submit comments on 24/00899/FUL via the Spelthorne Portal: HERE
Comments and Representations:
Should you wish to make comments, or modify/withdraw your previous representation, you can do so online at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk. Alternatively you can submit your comments in writing to Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House (East 3), 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, quoting the Inspectorate appeal reference number –24/00899/FUL. Any views in writing will be disclosed to all parties. The Planning Inspectorate will not acknowledge your letter unless you specifically asked them to do so. They will, however, ensure your letter is passed on to the Inspector dealing with the appeal. Please ensure that any representations which you wish to make on this appeal are sent in triplicate and are received by the Planning Inspectorate within 5 weeks from the appeal start date (2nd September 2024) otherwise there is a risk your representation will not be seen by the Inspector and will be returned. Any comments you made at the application stage will be forwarded by the Council to the Planning Inspectorate.
Reasons for Refusal:
Reason: Insufficient evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed use as an Adult Gaming Centre will not give rise to any harm in terms of noise to the adjoining residential properties and the surrounding area. This is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (December 2023) and Policy EN11 of the Spelthorne Core Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document (2009).
Reason: The proposed use as an Adult Gaming Centre would introduce a non-retail use operating 24 hours and the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposal will have an active frontage and make a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of Ashford Town Centre. This is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (December 2023) and Policy TC3 of the Spelthorne Core Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document (2009).
An appeal has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate against the refusal of the Adult Gaming Centre (AGC).
Appeal can be found under 24/00024/REF on the Spelthorne Planning Portal – HERE
Spelthorne Borough Council will be robustly contesting the appeal.
The Planning Inspectorate deals with planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialist casework in England. Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
SBC Leader Joanne Sexton:
I will be continuing to robustly challenge the proposal for an Adult Gaming Centre in Ashford, this outlet is NOT appropriate for our community, a concern which I know has been voiced by many residents. Strong opposition was clearly demonstrated with over 1,000 letters sent to the Council and the planning application was rightly refused permission. However, an appeal has now been submitted against this decision which will be considered by an independent Planning Inspector who will make the final decision.
The Local Planning Authority is required to follow the requirements of the Planning Inspectorate in relation to planning appeals. Once the start letter from the Planning Inspector is received the Council will notify those who originally submitted representations that the appeal has been lodged and inform residents how they can write their comments directly to the Inspector. I will keep you updated on the progress.
Together we can fight this application.
Read more on Adult Gaming Centres (AGC):
Campaigners are raising concern over the risk of problem gambling as more than 300 24-hour sites spring up – read the article from The Observer online HERE.
Independent Spelthorne Group (ISG) 