Norbury residents say the high street has no need for another gambling venue, with several already operating within a few hundred yards of the proposed site
Residents of a Croydon neighbourhood say plans for another gambling venue on their high street would bring “no benefit whatsoever”, as proposals to convert a former bank into an adult gaming centre move towards a decision.
Campaigners in Norbury say the proposed venue would more than double the number of slot machine terminals in the area, as they gear up for a licensing and planning battle.
Members of the Love Norbury community group gathered outside the former NatWest bank on London Road on Saturday, June 20, to protest against an application by Merkur Slots Ltd for a gambling licence at the site.
The proposed adult gaming centre would operate 24 hours a day, as no opening hours restrictions were sought by Merkur, with a minimum of two staff members required on site between 8pm and 6am.
“There is enough of a gambling presence in Norbury. This is a family area,” said Paloma Lacy, from Love Norbury.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Give me another vape shop, butcher, café—anything other than another gambling centre.”
Norbury already has four gambling establishments located a few hundred yards from the proposed site, with additional betting terminals located further along London Road.
Chair of Love Norbury, Deborah Bestwick, told the LDRS: “The people of Norbury do not want this here. This is a residential shopping street; it is a thriving neighbourhood. This gambling centre would bring no benefit whatsoever.”
Love Norbury — which represents 19 faith groups, local businesses, and residents’ associations — also highlighted that a successful application would more than double the number of betting terminals in the area by adding another 41 to the current 31.
Residents say the location of the proposed venue is also particularly sensitive, with Deborah noting: “The main door is only 12 paces away from the flats on Semley Road.”
She believes the site’s proximity to homes, combined with the proposed overnight operation, could lead to noise and loitering. Further concerns were outlined in Love Norbury’s petition, which has attracted over 1,000 signatures.
Petitioners argue granting the licence could lead to antisocial behaviour linked to problem gambling, with the petition’s author noting that “the adjacent Cash Exchange pawnbroker creates an immediate and obvious route to fund gambling losses”.
The petition added: “By permitting Merkur Slots to establish operations at this location, we are allowing the infiltration of our community through more gambling opportunities, potentially leading to higher rates of addiction, financial distress, and mental health issues among our residents.”
The campaign has also received backing from local councillors, including Norbury and Pollards Hill’s Leila Ben Hassell. Ben Hasell, who also serves as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “A gaming centre has no place here. Such an establishment should be in a city centre instead.”
Despite the local support, Deborah acknowledged that Croydon Council’s powers to reject gambling applicants were limited under the 2005 Gambling Act, which she believes is “entirely in favour of the applicants.” The act streamlines the licensing process for casinos, betting shops, bingo halls and arcades, with responsibility for licences transferred from magistrates’ courts to local authorities.
Local authories like Croydon can only refuse an application if it conflicts with one of four licensing objectives covering crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, or the protection of children from harm. Any non-compliant rejection by the council could cost the council dearly if it were to be appealed at a later stage.
While new powers introduced under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 allow councils to produce Gambling Impact Assessments when considering applications for new betting premises, Deborah said Merkur submitted its application before the legislation received Royal Assent on April 29, 2026. This means Croydon cannot require them to produce an impact assessment.
This week, residents of Willesden in north-west London secured a victory after Brent Council rejected an application for an adult gaming centre in its town centre. Among the reasons for refusal were the “proliferation of gambling sites in the borough” and concerns over increased antisocial and criminal behaviour in the area.
While Love Norbury are hoping for similar success in their licensing battle, they are also engaged in a separate planning dispute with Merkur.
Earlier this year, Croydon Council rejected Merkur’s plans to change the use of the former bank building at 1393 London Road to sui generis use, which would have allowed it to operate as a gambling premises, citing concerns over noise.
Merkur is now appealing the decision to the Secretary of State, with the appeal limited to noise grounds. The deadline for submitting objections to the appeal is 6 July.
The closure of the former NatWest branch in June 2024 has also continued to frustrate some residents, particularly as the area is not currently being considered for a LINK banking hub.
These hubs, operated by a group of high street banks, currently provide local services in Coulsdon and nearby Mitcham. Norbury resident Ann Creighton told the LDRS that their requests for a banking hub had been rejected because “they said Croydon and Streatham is close enough”.
In the meantime, Norbury residents must now rely on their local Post Office for local in person banking.
A licensing hearing is due to take place on July 2, when councillors will decide whether the gambling application should be granted.
A Merkur spokesperson said: “We believe this is an excellent opportunity to bring this important site, a closed venue in the heart of the town centre, back into commercial use. Our application, if approved, will create new local jobs and represents much-needed investment in the high street at a challenging time.”
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