LEWISHAM Deptford MP Joan Ruddock is battling to change the law on betting shops taking over the High Street.

On July 19 she presented a bill to the House of Commons proposing to change the planning class of betting shops and allow councils to place a cap on the number of them in an area.

If it becomes law the bill will take betting shops out of the current planning class, which groups them with banks, building societies and other professional and financial services, and place them in their own class for planning purposes.

Deptford currently has at least 10 bookmakers in the area with seven on the High Street alone.

Ms Ruddock told Parliament: “Betting shops are proliferating, squeezing out diversity and attracting antisocial behaviour.

“Again and again, when a property becomes vacant, another betting shop chain bids for the premises.

“Such properties have included some of the high street’s most iconic buildings.”

She told the House of Commons she was not opposed to betting but was concerned about the number of betting shops appearing on the High Street and the lack of opportunity for people to have a say.

Ms Ruddock added: “A turf war is now under way, as bookmakers, including new entrants, seek to seize market share.”

The MP will be submitting her bill to the government review of the system.

Chief executive of the Association of British Bookmakers, Dirk Vennix, said: “Extra regulation on our industry would be wholly disproportionate.

“Local authorities are already able to have their say on betting shops through the licensing process.

“Under the Gambling Act, councils have the power to decline licensing applications where there is hard evidence that a bookmaker would have a negative impact in a community.”