Human rights advocate Bianca Jagger has publicly opposed a planned 24/7 gambling arcade opposite Earl's Court Tube Station, urging Kensington and Chelsea Council to prevent its opening. Speaking at a residents' event on Thursday, September 17, the 81-year-old, who lives near the station, expressed deep concerns about the potential impact on children and vulnerable individuals in the area.
Campaign Against Relocation
Jagger is campaigning alongside local residents against Silvertime Amusements' application to move its shop to a larger, more prominent location on Earl's Court Road. The application is currently under review by the Planning Inspectorate, and Kensington and Chelsea Council has another chance to argue against the proposal.
At the event held at St Cuthbert's Church, Jagger addressed a crowd of opponents, delivering an impassioned speech. She stated, "I'm opposing it as a human rights defender, as a mother and grandmother who cares about the fate of children and vulnerable people who live in this area."
Concerns for Community Safety
Silvertime's application was initially refused at the planning stage but later granted a licence to operate by the council. The venue requires both licensing and planning consent before opening. A final decision rests with the Planning Inspectorate after the gambling chain appealed the Planning Sub-Committee's decision; hearing details have not yet been released.
Jagger, who runs The Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, criticised the proposed site's size and prominence compared to Silvertime's current venue. "It will be right across from the Tube station where many buses come, where many children have to go to school every single day," she said. "It will impact not only on the community but on the most vulnerable people, on children and that is my greatest concern and that is the reason why I came here to speak. And I will stay with this campaign to oppose Silvertime all the way to the end because it's not going to be an easy battle."
Local Officials Speak Out
Councillor Linda Wade, representing Earl's Court, believes the betting shop could directly affect the community. "At the moment what we have is we have families leaving, the very people who have invested in their properties, invested in the shops their children go to school - they are leaving - because they don't feel safe [in Earl's Court]," she said. Wade added that the council needed to "put their money where their mouth is" when the application goes to the Planning Inspectorate.
Joe Powell MP, who represents Kensington and Bayswater, said the application reflected a wider trend across London and the UK. "Unfortunately, we have been failing to stop these establishments from taking over far too many high streets," he told residents on Thursday.
Silvertime did not respond to the Local Democracy Reporting Service's request for comment. However, legal counsel Andrew Woods said at an August licensing hearing that the client has operated at its current site for 10 years without issues. He described the relocation to 177-179 Earl's Court Road as providing "better and more comfortable facilities with additional gambling machines."
The Planning Inspectorate's decision will determine whether the arcade can proceed, with the council set to make its case against the application.
