About This Campaign
Why this site exists, what a LARA is, and the story behind the premises licence application at 39 Church Road, Ashford.
The Application
A premises licence application has been submitted to Spelthorne Borough Council seeking permission to operate an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) at 39 Church Road, Ashford TW15 2QF, the former site of Barclays.
History
- September 2023: The first planning application to convert the former Barclays in Ashford to an Adult Gaming Centre. Outcome: Refused (23/01179/FUL)
- May 2024: Second planning application, initally refused before being appealed. Outcome: Approved (24/00577/FUL)
- October 2025: First application for premises licence. Outcome: Refused (Golden Slots Decision Notice, item 14/25)
- May 2026: Second application for premises licence. Outcome: Undecided (Licensing applications open to representations)
What is a LARA?
A Local Area Risk Assessment (LARA) is a document produced to accompany a gambling premises licence application. It is required under the guidance of the Gambling Commission and is intended to assess the risks posed by the proposed premises to the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005.
The LARA for the 39 Church Road application maps gambling-related premises and other local amenities within a defined radius of the site. The data from the LARA is displayed in the interactive risk map along with other locations that the LARA did not document.
What This Site Does
This site was built to make the LARA data accessible to local residents and to provide practical tools for those who want to participate in the licensing process. It is not affiliated with any political party or commercial organisation.
The risk map visualises the 128 locations identified in the LARA, and others not, within 1km of the proposed site: schools, places of worship, support services, alcohol-licensed premises, and other gambling venues.
The remaining sections of this site provide practical guidance on how to object, what arguments to make, who to contact, and the evidence base on gambling harm.
Our Position
This site takes a clear position: this application should be refused.
We believe residents have a right to participate meaningfully in licensing decisions that affect their community. This site exists to help them do that.
The name
Why is this site called Golden Slots? That’s the proposed name of the AGC, and someone didn’t buy the domain. So we’ve claimed it to act as a resource to object.