Hackney protest at stationery shop becoming gambling site after 'sneaking through' appeal
Residents in Hackney are protesting a new 24-hour casino after the Planning Inspectorate overturned the council's refusal.Summary
Campaigners from 'Bets Off Blackstock' gathered at a Finsbury Park stationery shop to protest its conversion into a 24-hour Adult Gaming Centre (AGC). The shop, Fish & Cook, had twice been denied permission by Hackney Council due to concerns over noise, disturbance, and anti-social behaviour. However, after an appeal, the Planning Inspectorate overturned the council's decision in April 2026, finding "no substantive evidence" that the casino would increase gambling-related harm. Local residents, including Angela Brady, warned that AGCs "suck the lifeblood out of our communities" and would exacerbate existing issues of poverty, crime, and addiction in the area. Despite opposition from over 400 residents and 60 businesses, the Planning Inspectorate granted permission, prompting calls for a national campaign to curb the spread of such centres.
(Source：My London)