The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hillingdon Council met to consider an application for a new bingo premises licence. The application was for 'Merkur Slots', part of the ground floor of 62 Station Road, Hayes, UB3 4DF. The sub-committee was scheduled to consider representations made about the application from interested parties.

Merkur Slots, 62 Station Road, Hayes

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss a new bingo premises licence application for Merkur Slots UK Limited, for a site at 62 Station Road, Hayes, UB3 4DF.

The application form notes that Merkur Slots UK Ltd has an operating licence, number 003266-N-103444. The proposed trading name for the premises is Merkur Slots. The location is part of the ground floor of a former Barclays Bank. The applicant did not want the licensing authority to exclude a default condition to allow the premises to be used for longer periods. They proposed that the licence commence as soon as possible.

The applicant, Merkur Slots UK Ltd, included a local area risk assessment with their application. This assessment noted that the premises is located in Hayes Town ward, which has a high concentration of residents aged 20-30, who are considered potentially vulnerable to gambling harm. The assessment also stated that the annual total crime rate in the local area is high compared to other areas in England and Wales. The Metropolitan Police Service have advised that the area has issues with anti-social behaviour, and alcohol and drug abuse.

The report pack included a representation from Christine O'Hara-Carnduff, a local resident. Christine O'Hara-Carnduff's representation stated that there were existing parking issues on Clayton Road, and that there were already a number of gambling premises in the high street. Christine O'Hara-Carnduff's representation also raised concerns about the type of clientele that gambling premises attract, and the impact on young children.

The report pack stated that the Licensing Sub-Committee could grant the application with mandatory and default conditions, grant the application with mandatory conditions but excluding specific default conditions and/or attach additional conditions, or reject the application.

The report pack also included:

• A map showing gambling premises in Hayes Town
• Relevant sections of Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP)
• A table of categories of gaming machines
• A confirmation of the date that the representation was received

The agenda for the meeting listed Councillor Darran Davies, Chair of Licensing Committee, Councillor Kelly Martin and Councillor Barry Nelson-West as the councillors on the sub-committee. Ryan Dell was listed as the contact for the meeting.