MEP wants betting shop clusters veto

Local MEP Paul Nuttall is backing calls for council powers to veto new betting shops.

The Local Government Association is pushing for an end to 'clustering' of betting shops and they also want a reduction in the risks of fixed odds betting terminals.

"There are 30,000 such machines - so-called 'crack cocaine' of gambling - in this country allowing punters to spend £100 in just 20 seconds," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader.

"Gamblers can become addicted to these machines and land themselves in terrible financial debt and they are also popular with drug dealers for laundering their ill-gotten gains.

"Councils are frustrated by the limited powers currently open to them to limit the numbers of shops opening in their areas even where there are community objections.

"This is not right and I support the LGA in their calls for councils to have more powers so they can better represent the views of local people who are fed up with the proliferation of betting shops," he said.