Ladbrokes disgusts me!
Posted by Alice Hull
Monday, August 28, 2006
I'm only 17 but I've lived in Hebden all my life and I am disgusted that anyone could have consented to this atrocity! What's Hebden coming to?!
I've also heard from a number of sources that many people were paid off to keep quiet and not vote against it. It makes me sick! We've already got drunken teenagers wandering the streets of Hebden causing havoc and Ladbrokes is just an invitation for more disorder.
I would really like to keep Hebden, well.. Hebden! Not some foul town for gamblers and drunks! Why couldnt we turn it into an internet cafe, I know many people who don't have a computer let alone the internet and would be truly grateful to do work in a place other than school. many of my friends and fellow students feel the same way. If anyone agrees with me please let me know! I know that we may not be able to do much about it but it's a start.
Posted by John Thomas
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Alice, where have you been? Ladbrokes has been there for about six months, have you just noticed it!!!
On a more serious note, what have you got against people having the odd flutter if they wish? And as for making the connection between drunken teenagers roaming the streets and Ladbrokes making them worse, i just don't see it.
Surely the two issues are entirely separate. Whilst I admit there is a problem with anti social drinking in the town, I don't think a betting shop is going to tip them over the edge.
As for the idea of an internet cafe, isn't Java on Market Street one? If not I agree it's a great idea, but just having a go at Ladbrokes because you may not have an internet cafe is a bit of a cheap shot.
Posted by Larry Kin
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Why is it always anti-social drinking that is blamed? It looks my like non-drinkers are being the most anti-social, constantly complaining about the drinkers. Perhaps if you drank more heavily you wouldn't be so upset by it all.
Posted by Rev Tony Buglass
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Good joke, Larry! Reminds me of the one Dave Allen used to tell: "D'you know that 25% of all road accidents are caused by drink driving? That means 75% of all accidents are caused by sober people! (slurring voice) So why don't you lot get off the roads and let us drunks drive safely?!"
Well, I'm assuming you're joking. I'm not a non-drinker, and I don't think it's unreasonable to object to vomit and mayhem caused by too much booze in the hands of those who don't know when to stop.
Posted by Peter Ford
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Ms Hull
Why is Ladbrokes being blamed for the antisocial drinking problems in Hebden Bridge? To My knowledge Ladbrokes does not sell alcohol of any kind.
If there is an obvious link between binge drinking and gambling that I have missed then I do apologise.
Hebden Bridge has had a bookmakers for longer than I can remember but the binge drinking craze only seems to be a recent concern to many. Perhaps Ms Hull, a little more research on T'internet at the Java lounge may be in order to unearth the hidden link between gambling and drinking.
Cheers!
Posted by Andrew Hall
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Nearly a year has passed since Ladbrokes applied to turn the TIC building into a betting shop. Since then, they have obtained permission, and for the past few months the site has been operational.
So, have the worst fears of the objectors been realised? Is there more drunkenness and antisocial behaviour as a result? Are the streets strewn with discarded betting slips? Are the children from the local primary schools being corrupted by this den of iniquity and the low life which frequents it? Are drivers so horrified by the sight of a Ladbrokes that they do a three point turn in the road and head straight back home in a state of total traumatisation? Are tourists shunning town as a result of the presence of a national betting shop chain?
I see no evidence on any of this, and I doubt whether any of the original objectors do.
The effort put into both the pro and anti lobby was really such a waste. And Alice, for heaven's sake, there are so many more important issues to which you ought to be addressing your concerns - issues which to us old codgers (ie over 50) may not be particularly pressing, but which, in the case of your generation (and of course subsequent), may literally be the difference between life and death.
Posted by Alice Hull
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Maybe I was a bit harsh, I just dont want to see Hebden turned into just any other town. It was once voted in the top 5 most funkiest towns! Now it seems to be going down hill, especially with another fish and chip shop being put up next to it! How many does Hebden need? It just depresses me seeing such a lovely town be turned upside down.
Oh and by the way, Java Lounge isn't even open to the public anymore. I don't know what's going on there. I was just trying to make an alternative suggestion. And I do know that Ladbrokes has been there a long time. I've been away, I'd only just found out that I could have my say on the website, which is what I'm doing, having my say. Is that OK Mr Hall?
Posted by Rev Tony Buglass
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Of course Ladbrokes isn't responsible for a collapse in the moral life of the community, Andrew, and the dire events you suggest objectors forecasted or imagined cannot be evidenced. Yet.
I really don't want to make Ladbrokes a bigger issue than it needs to be. I am disappointed that we lost the case, because I think such a prominent site could have been more positively used. I also think certain problems may yet arise because of their presence. I've never really gone along with the traditional Methodist attitude to gambling (I even won a large bar of chocolate in the Hebden Bridge carnival raffle!) (should I have admitted that...?) but like it or not there is a problem with gambling, and a lot of people in real and crippling debt because of it. As far as the school is concerned, if children passing by get the idea that gambling is safe and normal, that might not be a problem at all. If one child grows up to be a problem gambler because of that, it is a problem.
Yes, you can apply the same argument to drink. I wouldn't use it to try to close the pubs in order to protect the children. But I wouldn't want to open a pub next door to a school, either. My argument in court was not that there shouldn't be a Ladbrokes, but that it is in the wrong place. I still think I was right.
Posted by John Thomas
Friday, September 1, 2006
Alice,
Nobody was implying that you shouldn't air your views, this after all is a discussion forum. But with a heading such as 'Ladbrokes disgusts me' what did you expect?
A lot of people on this forum seem to have a problem with progress. And I believe would rather see Hebden Bridge become a ghost towninstead of having some mainstream companies invest in it.
I have lived in Hebden Bridge for thirty four years, but you don't hear me whining on about new projects in the town. If people have such a problem with Ladbrokes not been an independent shop, why don't they have a pop at Forbuoys, Spar, Barclays, and Natwest. All are huge companies or franchises and not "funky, independent shops".
Yes I like to see the specialist shops as much as the next person. But I accept that for a town to be viable, it must have a good mixture of both. And progress shouldn't be stopped just to keep a minority happy.
Posted by Tim
Friday, September 1, 2006
Progress isn't necessarily a bad thing - it depends what form it takes. Ladbrokes - a multinational that takes money out of the local enonomy (what happened to the old bookies?) putting very little back (apart from poorly disgused publicity stunts offering free bets to local charities). Bad progress in my book.
Although having dubious ethical policies the banks do provide a necessary service - I don't keep my money under the mattress!
I understood the Spar was a franchise so most of the money made does stay in the local economy.
Big businesses like Ladbrokes impoverish us all.
Posted by Peter Ford
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Tim a bit of a generalisation that. Ladbrokes does not impoverish us all. I have a winning betting slip. A £5 stake on crouch to score the first goal for England against Andora last Saturday at 3/1 brought a return of £20 so I'm £15 up.
The money I won will no doubt be spent in the local shops and public houses in Hebden Bridge, in turn spreading revenue in the local economy. As far as I see it my visit to Labrokes has benefitted the town and I'm sure I'm not the only winning punter.
Posted by Rev Tony Buglass
Thursday, September 7, 2006
Come on, Peter - you know your £15 didn't come out of the Ladbroke coffers. Every £1 you won was lost by someone else, probably in Hebden Bridge. And Ladbrokes has to make enough from the losers to pay the winners and make a profit for themselves. They're not a charity, they're a business who make their money from the suckers and losers who thereby have less money to spend in the shops and pubs of Hebden Bridge.
All right, you can argue that if you lose a few pounds, at least you're buying a bit of excitement and fun. Chaque a son gout, but it isn't my idea of fun. On balance I reckon Ladbrokes will take out more than they put in to the town's economy.
See previous Hebweb news and comment on Ladbrokes
