GAZETTE & HERALD: LADBROKES betting shop will be moving from its current site into the Martin Gate Centre after Chippenham magistrates granted it a licence last Thursday, despite protests from residents.

Ladbrokes has been trading in Corsham for 20 years and wants to bring the shop in line with others that have been redeveloped nationally.

The national betting shop operator has signed a 15-year lease with site landlord Bill Hall. It will spend £165,000 on the revamp at Unit 14 of the centre and hopes to open in three to four months.

Five residents were left fuming when the magistrates revealed their decision. Gillian Potts, from Box, who uses Corsham precinct almost every day, said: "The reason I love it so much is because it's unique. There are so many small, family, independent businesses there and suddenly you're getting these big guys coming in and they are destroying the uniqueness of this lovely part of the town. It was a complete rubber stamp with no acknowledgement of our case."

Father-of-five Paul Garcia, of South Street, said: "The location is where young people gather after school and it could have an effect on them, that gambling is acceptable."

Corsham town, district and county councillor, Peter Davis, said the decision would "deprive a very versatile and growing town of a very important retail let which, with all the increase in population is desperately needed."

But Ladbrokes' solicitor, Michael Messent, told magistrates: "It will be a credit to Ladbrokes, a credit to the centre and a credit to Corsham. It can no longer be right to shut away betting behind closed doors, as though it was a sex shop."