Residents battle to block bookies

John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, Botwell ward councillor Janet Gardner and some Hayes residents say the number of bookies in the area has become excessive. Botwell councillors Phoday Jarjussey and Mo Khursheed have also supported the petitions.

A planning application has been submitted to Hillingdon Council by Paddy Power, which intends to open the shop in Station Road, Hayes, where the Post Office used to be.

Mr McDonnell said: "We are getting the petition together to get this application rejected. We have far too many betting shops here.

"I have no problems with people having a bet now and then but we don't need so many bookies and my fear is that it will take advantage of vulnerable people who don't have much money and end up losing more than they can afford."

Ms Gardner said: "The town centre needs a greater variety of retail shops - this is what residents have said they want when they were surveyed last year by The Hayes Town Partnership.

"We are all working towards getting Hayes back on the map as somewhere for people to come and enjoy the environment, not to have it turned into a place full of takeaways and betting shops.

"The shop will be next to a busy GP practice and has housing directly above it, but residents living nearby haven't even been consulted."

Paddy Power is famous for its online gambling and willingness to offer odds on pretty much anything. It's stated aim is to make 'risk-based entertainment' more accessible.

Darren Haines, a spokesman for Paddy Power, said: "In the short term, people may perceive that there are too many betting shops but that is not how it will pan out in the long term because we believe we are very competitive in terms of our prices and our promotions.

"Ultimately it is survival of the fittest. And we shouldn't cause any disturbance to residents because our opening times are generally from 10am to about 8pm."