A TOWN centre pub has been given the green light to install a new slot machine as demand for gambling rises.

Northern Way in Nelson Square will now have three gaming machines as its application for a licence was approved by councillors.

The new machine will have a maximum stake of £1 with a maximum prize of £100.

Diana Freeman, compliance manager for Amber Taverns which owns the pub, explained why the company applied for the extra machine.

She said: "We'd like to have this machine as our customers have requested it. It's just something we'd like to offer to them. They get bored with the two machines that are there and they would like to move along to another one."

Members of the council's licensing and environmental regulation committee grilled representatives from Amber Taverns at a town hall hearing this week.

They reassured councillors that there are no ATMs or cashback facilities at their pubs. Mrs Freeman said: "We don't want people to have that easy access of getting their money."

The committee voted unanimously to approve the application on Tuesday.

Cllr Mudasir Dean, who chaired the meeting, defended the decision, saying that the pub was not "overdoing" anything.

When asked whether he was concerned about the rise in demand for gambling in the town centre, he said that he would welcome an investigation looking into the matter.

He said: "I think it's worth looking into the matter further, however, I do believe that an application is judged on it's own merit. But it would be useful to see demand is in our town to make sure we put provision in the future."

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Sue Haworth also defended the committee's decision, saying that she was reassured by the representatives' answers.

She said: “There is a current policy at the council presently that establishments like pubs and clubs wanting more than two Category C gaming machines, max stake £1 max prize £100, apply for permission. That there is a control limit in place is to reflect concerns about gambling control and gambling addiction.

"I asked about staff training on awareness of gambling addiction and also the applicant's experience on this. With much pub sector experience explained I felt the applicants gave very good assurance in answer to questions at committee.”