ANOTHER betting shop is set to open in an empty unit in Basingstoke to “increase footfall” and “add to the vitality” of the Top of Town.

Jennings Bet has been granted permission by the borough council to open the shop in Winchester Street, in a unit that has been vacant for two years.

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It has now asked for permission to install an illuminated sign outside the ground-floor unit, which was used by TSB bank before it closed in October 2020.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council approved a change of use of the unit in July, despite objections.

Officers for the borough council said: “Betting shops are considered to be a part of the essential mix of uses within town centres.”

They added: “The existing unit is vacant and in need of attention to improve its appearance in the street scene. The proposed use would increase football and natural surveillance of the area with people using the unit and visiting other units in the area generally.

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“It is therefore considered that the layout of the area being pedestrianised would promote social interaction with other uses in the area resulting in a safer and accessible town centre.”

Concerns were raised by objectors regarding the number of betting shops within the Top of Town.

However, officers said: “It would be difficult to argue that the loss of one financial services space would cause any significant harm to Basingstoke town centre in terms of vitality and viability of the town centre as a whole.

“It is considered that a betting shop would provide more customers than various other retail uses, would open later than many retail properties, and would therefore add to the vitality and viability of Winchester Street in terms of customer numbers, and members of the public visiting the area.

"This would hopefully have a knock-on effect for the rest of the units in terms of extra business.”

According to council officers, Winchester Street has a higher number of vacant units than the rest of the town centre, with eight of the 35 (22.8 per cent) empty.

It said: “This represents an even higher concentration of vacant units along Winchester Street alone.”

Those who objected also raised concerns about a betting shop affecting the “viability and vitality of the area” with a “cluster of five betting / gaming sites within close proximity”.

They said another betting shop could increase gambling opportunities and lead to “anti-social behaviour”.