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This article covers the important facts regarding Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces.
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New vape shops will require planning permission and councils will get more powers to stop betting shops, under administrationplans aimed at improving high streets.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham statedtown centres had been “hollowed out” by decades of decline and “for many people, the high streets they grew up with have become unrecognisable”.
The MediaNews has exposed organised crime on high streets across the country, revealing shops selling illegal cigarettes and vapes, selling cannabis and cocaine, enabling illegal working and suspected money-laundering.
The Conservatives and Reform statedthe proposals would lead to “more empty” shops, without tax relief for other minorbusinesses.
Burnham statedthe measures will give councils more power to control what businesses open in town centres.
The proposals come as the premierembarks on a tour of the UK, with Downing Street saying he will be in “listening mode” during his visits as he works on a “10-year plan to bring back hope”.
The plans announced by the administrationinclude:
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Changes to planning law which would mean every new shop selling e-cigarettes, or vapes, would need to apply to their regionalcouncil for permission to open (England only)
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Tightening the definition of a vape shop to prevent businesses avoiding the rules by describing themselves as a general convenience store or retailer (England only)
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Scrapping a rule known as “aim to permit”, which currently restricts councils’ ability to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops (Great Britain-wide)
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Requiring planning permission for new adult gaming centres, which offer 24-hour access to gambling machines (England only)
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New powers to extend closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops found to be selling illegal tobacco or up to twelve months, something previously proposed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (England and Wales)
The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that at least £1bn of criminal cash is laundered through high street stores in the UK each year through businesses connected to the sale of fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working and illegal drug supply.
Burnham stated”the rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for”.
He added: “That’s not on. I statedwe would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do.
“We’re putting communities back in control and giving regionalpeople a real say over what opens on their high street.”
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