ALLOWING a betting shop permission to open in a parade of shops would set a "poor example" to the area's youths, according to a rector.

The proposal, from Coral Racing Ltd, has attracted objections from a wide section of the community in Weeke.

The Winchester suburb's two churches, along with governors of Weeke Primary School, Henry Beaufort School in Harestock, and residents, have written to Winchester City Council ahead of a licensing hearing next Monday (September 10).

Coral Racing Ltd wants to convert the video rental shop in the parade of shops in Stoney Lane into one of its betting outlets.

It has applied to the city council for a provisional statement, which would allow the shop to be converted, and for Coral to then apply for a premises licence, under the Gambling Act 2005.

The licensing sub-committee is due to make a decision on Monday.

But a series of worried members of the community have objected to having a betting shop there, saying the plan would go against the council's responsibility to protect children from gambling.

In a letter to Cllr Fiona Mather, chairman of the licensing sub-committee, The Rev Kate Cambridge, of Wesley Methodist Church, said she was worried about the effects on the youth in Weeke and wanted to object in "the strongest possible terms".

She said: "The presence of a betting shop as our closest neighbour would be a very poor example to these young people and would have a negative social impact on our community."

The Rev Terry Roberts, of St Barnabas Church, said the idea was "wholly inappropriate" because the shop is near the primary school and the parade is a place where young people congregate.

Also writing to object were Mike Hobby, a churchwarden at St Barnabas, Stella Roberts, chairman of Weeke Mothers' Union branch and chairman of Winchester Deanery Mothers' Union Committee, and Katy Warr and Andy Coulbeck, both governors at Weeke Primary School.

Resident, Sara Mitchell, added in her objection: "These shops are a valuable local amenity and a betting shop is not in keeping with the kind of shop needed and currently available in this area."

Also voicing concerns were Sarah Coulbeck, a governor at Henry Beaufort School, and Hampshire county councillor, Phrynette Dickens.

In a letter responding to the concerns, John Magee, senior development manager at GalaCoral Group, which operates Coral Racing Ltd, said the firm put social responsibility at the forefront of its trading agenda.

He said it operated a strict "no under-18s" policy in its shops and made leaflets available inside detailing the help available to anyone with a gambling problem.

All managers had attended social responsibility training and Coral had been thoroughly vetted in being awarded its operator licence under the Gambling Act, he added.