Bookies’ licence application to be heard

An application for a betting premises licence for a bookmakers in the centre of Kirkwall is set to go before decision makers today, Thursday.

This is the second time such an application has been made by the same company, the first having been refused earlier this year. This fresh application has attracted numerous objections, including a petition containing over 700 names against the proposal.

MAB Bookmakers Ltd, trading as Laidlaws Bookmakers, originally applied for a licence for its Bridge Street premises earlier this year, which was heard by the Orkney Islands Area Licensing Board back in March.

That application was refused, following highly vocal concerns over plans to install four fixed-odds betting terminals.