Businesses in bid to stop bookies' shop

Published on Monday 19 February 2007 11:59

BUSINESS owners are outraged by an attempt to open up a betting shop in a thriving retail street.

Proposals to transform the former Greig Firth hairdressers in Bruntsfield Avenue have been submitted to the council by Morrison Bookmakers Ltd.

Local business owners claim a betting shop would hit their trade and lower property prices.

Wendy Beaumont, owner of Halibut & Herring on Bruntsfield Place, said: "It's really going to pull the area down. If it is allowed, it will be the start of the lowering of quality in this area."

Kathleen Sinclair, owner of Scoosh, also on Bruntsfield Place, is also worried about the effect it would have on schoolchildren. She said: "There's too many kids around who may want to go into it and it could start a ball rolling. I also think that it might attract the wrong clientele."

Bridget Stevens, chair of Merchiston Community Council, added: "A bookies in Bruntsfield would significantly alter the character of the street. It consists of small, family shops and if the betting shop comes along it will be an altogether different animal."