Gambling parlour plan for popular Edinburgh neighbourhood as rejection appealed
Merkur Slots, which already has slots parlours on Nicolson Street and Leith Walk, filed an application to open the outlet on Morrison Street in December of last year.
However, in March, council officials denied the firm planning permission, saying that the proposed 24 hour running of the parlour would have an adverse impact on nearby residents.
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The denial read: 'While the application site falls within the designated city centre, the immediate surrounding area contains a large number of residential properties.
'Given the proposed use, it is considered that the change to accommodate an adult gambling centre, open 24 hours, would result in higher levels of user activity than at present.
'While the wider area is busy, with high ambient noise levels, the immediate vicinity of the application site is relatively quiet in comparison.'
Up until 2023, the property at 181 Morrison Street was a showroom for carpet firm Carpet Rite.
The appeal is set to come before the Planning Local Review Body on Wednesday next week, with officers recommending that permission be denied.
In documents filed ahead of the meeting, Merkur Slots said that one of the objections to the planning application had been filed on behalf of one of their competitors.
In addition, they contested the grounds on which their application was denied – however, they have offered to limit their opening hours to 8.00–midnight as part of their appeal.
The slots parlour would not serve alcohol, and in their application the firm says that staff on site would aim to limit the impact of the venue on the community as much as possible.
Customers who smoke would be 'asked to do so as quickly as possible', and notices would be put up outside the venue saying anyone who drank near the entrance would be barred.
The firm says that the slots onsite would be 'low stakes', of between 10p and £2, with average stakes of 30p-40p.
The Morrison Street site has already been granted a licence to operate by the council.
The appeal will be considered at the next meeting of the Planning Local Review Body on Wednesday, August 13, which you can view here.
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