A TOWN council has labelled a proposed casino’s plan to open 24-hours a day in Barrow ‘totally unacceptable’.

Barrow Town Council said in a planning consultation that they have material objections to the proposed Admiral Casino on Dalton Road.

Plans were lodged in July by Luxury Leisure to convert the former Shoezone into a 24-hour Admiral-operated adult gaming centre (AGC).

READ MORE: Admiral submits plans to open on Dalton Road, Barrow

Planning documents say the opening hours at the proposed casino are ‘critical’ to provide a ‘commercially sensitive operation’ and make a ‘positive contribution’ to town centre viability.

However Barrow Town Council said it believed the proposed gaming centre would be ‘detrimental’ to the town.

A response from the town council states: “The facility will give rise to the level of anti-social behaviour in the Town Centre which consequently will put a strain on the work of the police who have stated due to lack of resources they will be unable to provide sufficient cover.

“The town of Barrow is classed as an ‘Area of Deprivation’. The Town Council believe such a facility would be detrimental to the well being of the town and its residents.”

The planning statement said there was ‘no evidence’ that the proposed adult gaming centre would contribute additional anti-social behaviour in the area and said it would help ‘diversify’ the evening economy of the town.

“Admiral units do not serve alcohol, nor do they allow the consumption of alcohol on-site. This helps to mitigate the potential for anti-social behaviour and thus further prevent adverse impacts on residential amenity”, the planning statement says.

Cumbria Constabulary previously said the neighbourhood policing team believed the 24-hour operation of the did not support its efforts to address anti-social behaviour in the area.

READ MORE: Police raise concerns over 24-hour operation of proposed Barrow casino

The force said: “Due to the ongoing disruption and harmful impact on normal business activity in the area the neighbourhood policing team (NPT) is very concerned regarding the applicant’s proposed trading hours.”

The neighbourhood policing team added it was seeking council support to put a restriction on the trading hours.

The response adds: “The NPT contend that permitting the adult gaming centre (AGC) to operate 24/7 does not support their efforts to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) – and will bring persons to an area where there is no other 24-hour commercial activity.

“The NPT also points out that granting this approval will set a precedent that may have long term implications on local policing resources, i.e. a cumulative effect of other premises being permitted to open 24/7.”

The planning statement says the former Shoezone has been empty for over a year and the proposed adult gaming centre (AGC) would ‘sustain the use’ of a high street premises that is ‘at risk’ of long-term vacancy.

According to the applicant, the proposed gaming centre would generate additional footfall in the town centre with survey data and evidence from other Admiral-operated sites suggesting that visits contribute to the success of other surrounding retailers through linked trips.

The planning statement says: “The proposed AGC would therefore have positive benefits to the wider town centre through bringing visitors into the town centre who would likely use other local services and facilities.”

Planning documents submitted by the applicant also look to address potential concerns relating to noise from the site.

Plans say sound insulation is used within all premises to shield surrounding occupiers from any noise and any music played within the premises is always at a background level. The planning statement also states there are no residential properties within a range of the site which could be impacted by noise.

Plans add: “This area of the town centre already has a number of late-night activities such as bars and restaurants. Any noise generation associated with the proposed AGC must be seen in this context and, regardless, any noise and disturbance associated with the proposed use would be significantly less than that associated with other evening economy type uses.”

Planning documents added the proposed casino would create 12 jobs in the area.

The application is being considered by Westmorland and Furness Council.