All of Barnet’s political groups say they want to beef up planning policies to stop more gambling venues opening in the borough.

The Lib Dems, Labour and the Tories backed drawing up a more robust local plan after Cashino won permission to open a Merkur Slots adult gaming centre in Ballards Lane, Finchley.

Plans for the slot machine venue drew more than 600 objections from the public and were refused by the council – but a Government planning inspector overturned the decision last month.

READ MORE: Gambling venue can open after council decision overturned

The Liberal Democrat group launched a petition urging the council to review its local plan – a framework for development in the borough – and put in place robust rules to block similar venues from winning approval. It has now gained more than 470 signatures.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Gabriel Rozenberg said: “I was really shocked when the decision to refuse permission was overturned. Something has gone badly wrong when you have allowed two of these slot machine venues to be set up in Finchley.

“The local plan should use the strongest possible language to say these are not appropriate in town centres. We have a town centre strategy that is being completely undermined.

“I think the council should review the local plan very urgently – and if that is not enough, we should be campaigning as a local authority for our ability to control our town centres for the good of the community.”

Deputy Labour leader Cllr Ross Houston said: “We need to protect our communities and our young and our vulnerable people from the proliferation of gambling outlets.

“We should be looking at a whole-council approach to this as advocated by London Councils, including the public health dimension, the cost to public services of problem gambling and the impact on specific areas.

“We have lots of different powers to help us, but we have to do the work to assess the damage gambling causes to our communities. The council needs to have the most robust policy framework to allow us to resist these types of applications.”

Council leader Cllr Dan Thomas said the Conservative administration had consistently opposed the opening of ‘Cashinos’ in the borough.

“I was pleased the council rejected Merkur Slots application to open on Ballards Lane and disappointed to see the planning inspector’s decision to overturn this,” he added.

“In their report, the planning inspector used the national framework to overrule Barnet’s decision, even noting that their ruling is made in conflict to our local plan.

“We are in the process of finalising our new, more robust local plan, which will help to make sure that we aren’t overruled in this way again.

“I remain committed to making sure that high streets in Finchley, and across Barnet, remain vibrant community hubs and so will continue to oppose the opening of more of these Cashinos in our borough.”

A Barnet Council spokesman said: “Council members have contributed to the ongoing development of the emerging local plan, and we will shortly be discussing the plan further with councillors as we move towards finalising the document.

“This will provide an opportunity to consider the appeal decision, appropriate policy wording and evidence requirements in dealing with applications on such entertainment uses. We look forward to working with council members on appropriate policy wording.

“An Article 4 Direction would not have been applicable in this instance, as adult gaming centres are considered ‘sui generis’ – in a planning class of their own – and as such do not have permitted development rights, so always require planning consent.

“This particular application was refused but was subsequently allowed by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate on appeal.”

A Merkur Slots spokesperson said: “We are pleased with the planning inspector’s decision to allow the appeal, which will return a vacant unit to commercial use, ensuring it once again contributes to the local economy.

“Allowing the appeal will create new jobs and represents much-needed investment at a challenging time.

“Our adult gaming centres are where people come to spend their spare change, have a game of bingo and enjoy their favourite pastime, and we look forward to playing an active role in the local community.”