Former bank to become gaming centre despite addiction and impact fears

A proposal to convert a former bank into an adult gaming centre has been approved despite concerns about town-centre impacts in Wisbech. In April, Gavin Papworth submitted an application to Fenland District Council to change the use of 28 Market Place, previously a Halifax bank that closed on January 22, 2025, after which it remained unoccupied. The plan would transform the site into a “sui-generis adult gaming centre,” with 224 m² of ground-floor retail space arranged like a banking hall, including meeting rooms and ancillary offices. Luxury Leisure, part of the Novomatic Group, intends to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using the ground floor for gaming and upper floors for storage and staff facilities. Councillor Steve Tierney and neighbours opposed it, citing fears for gambling addicts, noise and nuisance, and loss of active frontage. The approval follows claims that Wisbech already has multiple gambling and betting establishments.