Merkur Slots wins appeal for 24-hour Worthing gaming centre

Merkur Slots has won an appeal allowing it to open a 24-hour adult gaming centre at 3–4 Chapel Road in Worthing, overturning Worthing Borough Council’s earlier refusal of the plans.

The proposal faced opposition from 67 residents, Worthing West MP Dr Beccy Cooper and former borough councillor Ödül Bozkurt. Ms Bozkurt said she was disappointed that concerns about the number of gambling venues, antisocial behaviour, the conservation area and the effect on the community had been dismissed.

The council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the application in February, but Merkur Slots argued that the reasons were vague and unsupported by substantive evidence. The company said the development would bring a vacant unit back into use and support the daytime and night-time economies, with electronic bingo terminals and slot machines operating around the clock.