A court case between a bookmaker and the council is now scheduled to take place in November.

Betting firm Paddy Power is appealing against Haringey Council’s decision to refuse it a betting licence.

After an initial court appearance by both parties at Tottenham Magistrates Court yesterday morning, the appeal hearing will now take place at Highbury Corner Magistrates on November 24.

Paddy Power applied to open a new Wood Green shop in April, but the application was refused following widespread objection from residents.

The company wanted to open a shop on the site of the disused Lordship pub in Lordship Lane, near the junction with Dunbar Road.

However, the council’s licensing committee said it felt a new betting shop would add to anti-social behaviour problems in the area.

Paddy Power says its presence would benefit the area economically, and that its new branch would be a “major local investment”.

It said: “We are bringing a vacant property back into use and creating around five new jobs.

“In addition, our research shows our shops attract customers to other retailers in the area. So at a time when the UK high street is facing unprecedented challenges due to the economic downturn and the emergence of out of town shopping centres we believe we can make a positive contribution to the communities we operate in.”

The company did not respond to questions on the links between gambling and crime, or on why it wanted to open a shop in Wood Green specifically.

Campaigners say the community has “substantial concerns” that the addition of another betting shop would “exacerbate the problems already experienced by residents”.

They say there are already three betting shops along the road, and that their presence increased instances of sexual harassment against women.

The only way the council can currently prevent Paddy Power from operating in the area is by refusing it a licence on the grounds that a new shop would increase crime and disorder in the area.

The Gambling Act 2005 states that concern at the number of bookmakers already trading in an area is not grounds for refusing a licence.

Haringey Council is one of several councils to have asked the Government to place betting shops in a special planning category to make it easier for planning authorities to refuse permissions for change of use.

Paddy Power currently do not need to apply for planning permission, and can only be refused a licence. 

Haringey Council said it was unable to comment on the appeal while legal proceedings are ongoing.