Activist Bianca Jagger has stepped in to support anxious residents who are trying to fight off the opening of a new slot machine casino in Earl’s Court, The Citizen can reveal.

Ms Jagger, a resident in the Royal Borough, has weighed in with an excoriating FOUR PAGE objection letter that was sent to RBKC council late on Tuesday. In it, she claims that the new AGC – Adult Gaming Centre – would turn the area into a “gambling hub’.

The objection centres around a licensing and a planning application submitted by Silvertime Amusements to move its existing shop at No.169 to bigger premises just three doors away at No.177-179.

Ms Jagger, 80, has stated in stark language that the venue will “exploit” children travelling through the area from nearby schools, “increase” crime and anti-social behaviour, and be a “nuisance” to the public. She is echoing grave concerns already expressed to The Citizen by campaigners and ward councillors.

One issue of acute concern is that Earl’s Court has “50%” of the borough’s “specialist supported accommodation”, which is used by people with “complex needs”, such as mental health problems and “a pre-disposition to addictions”.

Ms Jagger – the former wife of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger – says that these people will be significantly at risk from having a far bigger and more visible gambling centre on Earl’s Court Road.

 

From the letter: ‘This is the wrong place for this business and contributing to the saturation of betting and AGCs within several meters of one another – I am aware that this would not be permitted in other main areas of the borough, why is this been contemplated to be permitted in Earl’s Court?’

Silvertime – a company that has been in the slots business for 40 years and prides itself on being “family owned and run” – wants to take over the space vacated by the Lloyd’s Bank. It has issued a lengthy statement to The Citizen, which we print in full below.

In one development that has further angered residents and ward councillors, Silvertime has applied for a 24/7 licence. Campaigners say that, if granted, this would lead to another casino nearby – Admiral – applying for a similar licence.

In Ms Jagger’s letter – printed under the letterhead ‘The Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation’ – she repeatedly blasts Silvertime’s proposal and the consultation process run by the council.

The right to object to Silvertime’s application closed yesterday – 24th March – but campaigners say that the entire process has been “flawed” because the council’s comments portal has been offline due to the cyber attack. Residents also say that the option to email comments has not been working effectively.

Ms Jagger also states that a “newspaper” advert that the council is legally obliged to publish alerting residents to application has NOT been readily available.

From the letter: ‘It is understood that the Licensing Department has complied with the Statutory Requirement under the Act but an ad in a newspaper that residents do not have access to and one A4 letterhead on a flank wall is perhaps not in the spirit of the law, particularly on what is known to a particularly sensitive location.’

 

 

Councillor Linda Wade, who presents Earl’s Court ward, told The Citizen how Ms Jagger got involved in the campaign. She said:  “One of our residents was protesting about the casino on Earl’s Court Road and someone said that they knew Bianca and that they would tell her.

“As soon as she heard about it all, we spoke and she said that she wanted to help. Her letter is brilliant and gets to the heart of all the issues. We are very grateful to her for stepping. The casino is a very serious matter and simply must be stopped. It will turn this area into a gambling hub.”

In recent times, Ms Jagger’s ex-husband Mick, who has a home in Chelsea, has been a vocal supporter of The Citizen’s high profile campaign to stop a 29-storey tower of luxury flats being built by Battersea Bridge.

Cllr Wade added: “As a councillor – as well as one who sits in the Licensing Committee – I am very concerned about the consultation process. It has been a shambles and flawed. It seems to be weighted in favour of businesses, rather than residents.

“I am also concerned that the council is fearful of rejecting applications made by these gaming companies because they are worried about legal fees if they appeal. But the council must not make this an excuse. They must stand up to these companies – as a matter or urgency.”

The Citizen has approached RBKC for comment. The full response from Silvertime is below.

The Citizen has also today requested to interview the owners of Silvertime to discuss the issues outlined by campaigners.

Bianca Jagger’s Objection Letter

 

Silvertime’s statement in full