By Eric King-
Walthamstow locals have objected against proposals made for an Estate Agent to be converted into a casino, fearing that it would ruin children.
Councilors and members of the public have voiced objections about plans to open an adult gaming centre in a busy shopping street.
Cosmic Casino recently applied to Waltham Forest Council planning committee, to convert an estate agents’ office into a gaming venue.
The company which is on Hoe Street is raising its ambitions to extend its business reach and attract customers at a high rate, by establishing something fresh and enticing that is guaranteed to pull in punters.
Cosmic Casino is planning to move to the former office of Clarke Hillier Ltd at 159 Hoe Street, Walthamstow. The council-owned site was being line dup for the Central Parade Redevelopment Project, but Cosmic Casino has waved what looks like a magic wonder , set to proceed except it is prevented by intervention.
Those objecting say the venue will have a high propensity for anti-social behaviour, and encouraging gambling addictions with impressionable children who should be focusing on their education, instead of acquainting themselves with gambling. Others have said it would be “damaging to the viability and vitality of Hoe Street”. Representatives of Cosmic Casino say the agitation is unjustified. A spokesperson for Cosmic Casino told the eye of media.com ” the agitation against the proposal to establish a casino near flats will not be an automatic license for children to come in there. People will have to be over 18 to get in , and ID’s will be checked”.
Locals still believe children under the age of 18 will be able to slip in there. 34 year old mum of two, Susan Apted,told the eye of media.com ” these days some children look older than their age and will use I.D’s belonging to their older siblings, or older friends a, and get into these places. I have known 15 year old girls that have fooled bouncers with lip stick ,high heels, and their older sister’s driving license. When they look just a little alike, doormen can’t always tell the difference. The truth is that casinos are very attractive to young teenagers because of the lure of suddenly winning a lot of money from a small investment of gambling. However, it eventually becomes addictive for some of them, becoming a nightmare. They can get drunk or spiked in casinos”.
Another mother of 3, Amanda Cole, shared similar sentiments, but had a wider take on the matter. She told the eye of media.com ”even 18 or 19 year olds are still children in my eyes. They may have the legal status of adults, but lots of them still don’t have direction. They are still working out their way in life. Setting up a casino right under their nose can be a bad trap for young people who are still developing and establishing their identity. ”If a Casino is set up here, it can attract the wrong type of congregation and be a perfect recipe for violence and disaster. All sorts of young people will attend to show they have money and to try to make more on these gambling machines. Let the older gamblers who have chosen their path stick to where they usually go to gamble. We don’t want that on our doorstep”. Over 25 objections have been made in writing, and the eye of media.com hear there are more to come.
The proposed opening hours from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 8pm on Sundays, is bound to change the face of the vicinity where the casino is placed. Under the proposals, the Casino will also open on bank holidays. People of all walks of life flock to casinos daily, particularly on weekends, to try their chances on various gambling games, whilst also socialising. Cosmic casinos also provide online betting and gaming , broadening the range of choices for gamblers. the popularity of online casinos has skyrocketed to a great extent. Cosmic Casino’s spokesperson told the eye of media.com ” online casinos are a lot better and more advanced than with respect to gaming, variations, and strategy, it actually provides more options than the already varied land based casinos which have many options of its own.
Those complaining and advising against a land based casino must remember that these young people can go online to play, so the decision to gamble or not gamble is always going to be a person one based on each person’s passions or convictions. .People really should look at the overall benefit it will bring to Hoe Street
GRANT PERMISSION
The planning committee has been recommended to grant permission subject to conditions at a meeting later today, Tuesday . Locals will wait eagerly to discover whether the area will be bursting with increased economical and social activity in an area that has had its fair share of gang killings and attacks .Walthamstow has several trouble shooters and pockets of gangs. It still doesn’t compare with many parts of London, like Hackney, Peckham, Kilburn, Harlesden, and other gang ridden areas. It has an improving and accredited college in Waltham Forest College with a growing number of ambitious youths. However, its menacing gangs and bunch of misfits is the one other main concern of establishing this casino. Tough security will be placed there, but when bad boys what to wreak havoc, sometimes not even the security can be there fast enough to stop it.
Twenty-five objections from members of the public and four from councilors have been submitted to the planning committee.