PLANS to move the Sega amusement arcade from the Harvey Centre to alternative premises in Harlow town centre have been agreed by Harlow Council, despite fears that the move may encourage more children to gamble.

Applicant Leisure Exchange wants to move the facility that has fruit machines, video games and table games to premises in Eastgate currently occupied by Pizza Hut.

However at Thursday's plans meeting councillors Jim Pailing and Matthew Shepherd raised concerns that the move to a more prominent site could tempt more children to use the centre.

Mr Pailing said it was proven that video games produced obsessive behaviour in children, and that allowing prime premises to be used for gambling was "disgraceful and disgusting".

Mr Shepherd said it would be an "obvious attraction" for people under age.

He said: "The last thing we want is to encourage the gambling phenomenon. In the case of children there are obvious risks of putting such a facility in such a prominent place."

However a representative of Leisure Exchange told the meeting a recent survey showed that 75 per cent of the centre's customers were aged over 18, and that the betting machines would be in a restricted area away from the video and table games targeted at younger people.

He added that anyone under age found in the restricted area would be immediately challenged by staff.

Conservative councillor Chris Ford said the council could not act as a "guardian of the public's morality", a sentiment echoed by Labour councillor Maggie Hulcoop.

She said: "We can't dictate people's lives, people will find it (the centre) wherever it is and it's better here than in some dark corner. If it's in the open, people will take it for granted and eventually the novelty factor will wear off."

February 11, 2003 14:30