Hi Friends who follows my blog please find a copy of a letter to Eric Pickles MP RE: LETTER TO MR ERIC PICKLES Government's Localism and Decentralisation Bill please read & action ASAP
Dear Colleagues
Westminster Citizens, a local branch of London Citizens has been working in Chinatown on the growing numbers of gambling outlets in the area. Chinatown has seen 4 new applications in the last 3 months and is set to grow. The chinatown gambling campaign is a call to the government to commit to the "big society" agenda and give local authorities and the communities a greater say on the character of their neighbourhoods. The Gambling Act 2005 allows casino's to open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The industry can advertise and has removed the requirement of membership.
Many colleagues across the UK have also reported their concerns on the prevalence of gambling shops in their local High Street. This is a serious problem where local authorities and communities are powerless to oppose the growing number of applications in the area. Please refer to our hearing press release at Westminster City Hall last month.
The local action team met with national bodies like Chinese organisations/Church groups, Evangelical Alliance, Church of England, Salvation Army and others are writing to Mr Eric Pickles (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government). The Government is due to introduce the Localism and Decentralisation Bill into Parliament in the coming months, and we therefore are asking that this bill be used to amend the Gambling Act 2005.
Please support our campaign by endorsing the letter attached and forward your name, position and organisation to me at your earliest convenience.
