I am writing to you asking for your support to change the law regarding the issuing of gaming licenses by local councils.

This is not a moralist crusade about the rights and wrongs of gambling – this is about valuing a vibrant and diverse high street.

At present, my Tottenham constituency has 37 betting shops – that is one for every 2,100 adults. Green Lanes has 7 gambling establishments at present, all within a 350m stretch of road. The along Tottenham High Road has 13 different establishments. Our community has become saturated with gambling outlets, going far beyond what is needed to provide choice for those that wish to gamble.

Local people want a vibrant and diverse range of establishments on their high street. Further betting shops would detract further from this aim, both by yet another premises being used as a betting shop and by decreasing the attractiveness of Green Lanes to other businesses looking for somewhere to invest/open a new business.

They are a haven for anti-social behaviour. Our Safer Neighbourhood teams are frequently called out to deal with abusive patrons and the large numbers of men that congregate outside these shops to smoke and drink cause a nuisance and can make an intimidating site for residents.

I am even more horrified to think that the location of these establishments lies so close to key community buildings and the homes of many vulnerable people. The establishments along Green Lanes are perilously close to St. Ann’s Hospital, used frequently by those with mental health needs. Even more worrying is that the pupils of John Loughbrough School will pass no less than 3 bookmakers along the 300m walk from their school to the bus stops along the High Road.

In an area like Tottenham and Haringey where many people are on low incomes, we can ill afford to increase the prevalence, accessibility and attractiveness of gambling in this way.

I am constantly reminded of the strength of feeling against the proliferation of betting shops by Tottenham residents. From Philip Lane to the High Rd to Green Lanes, people say again and again that enough is enough.

However, no matter how many gambling shops open in my constituency it always seems that the gambling establishment is looking to open more. Most recently on Green Lanes the eighth gambling premises licence was applied for. Rightly, local residents, including the Chair of the Ladder Community Partnership and people on Harringay Online, are outraged by this and want to do whatever they can to stop this application from being successful.

I know that many many people have submitted objections to Haringey Council about this specific case, and I have joined them in doing so. But now it is clear that the only way to achieve a long term, sustainable end of the proliferation of gambling shops in our area is by changing the legislation that allows this to happen.

Local people have to be able to protect their communities and to have true ownership over the future of their local area. This means changing the law so that we here in Tottenham can once and for all say together ‘enough is enough’.

Sign my petition, and let’s stop the bookmakers gambling with our community,

David Lammy MP