Councillor scolds 'unhelpful' plan to open casino on site of former William Hill bookies in Northampton town centre

A plan to renovate a former Northampton town centre bookies into a casino has been branded "useless" by its ward councillor.

The William Hill betting centre on Fish Street - whose entrance is between Costa and Cafe Creperie - has stood empty ever since it shut in 2019.

Now, a plan has been put to the borough council to redevelop the shop front into an "adult entertainment centre" - which are typically made of slot machines and betting games.

But the idea has had a cold reception by town centre's Castle Ward councillor Danielle Stone [Lab.], who wrote in a letter to the planning board: "I strongly object to this. We need to make this area of town inviting to families and young people. This will do the opposite."

She told the Chronicle & Echo: "It's entirely unhelpful. It's not helpful in terms of trying to draw people into the town and make it family friendly.

"I thought we were doing all this work to develop the town centre into a residential space with leisure, services and niche retail shopping.

"We need to be thinking about things more creatively, and this is not doing that."

The proposed arcade would be just over 100 square metres large.

A planning statement written in support of the arcade by Roger Etchells Planning - a company based in Leicestershire - reads: "The proposal would maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of the shopping centre."

Neighbouring businesses and councillors have been invited to comment on the plans in a consultation that closes on October 19.