PROLIFERATION of betting shops in Haringey has become a campaign issue for mayoral hopeful Ken Livingstone who today called for new powers for councils and residents to refuse betting shops.

In Haringey there are currently 72 betting shops centred around three locations Wood Green's shopping districts and around High Road, Tottenham.

One particular 300-metre stretch of betting shops in Green Lanes is home to a total of nine betting shops.

Figures show that there are now more than 2,095 betting shops in London, compared with 1,721 in 2003.

Mr Livingstone and Tottenham MP David Lammy, who has an ongoing campaign against the saturation of betting shops in his constituency, are lobbying communities secretary Eric Pickles to make amendments to the decentralisation and localism bill.

The pair hope the move will empower residents by allowing them to have a say on what businesses should exist in their communities.

Mr Livingstone said: "The huge increase in the number of betting shops in London has changed the character of high streets across London and I believe it is time for Londoners and local authorities to be given greater powers to ensure our high streets do not become completely dominated by gambling establishments."

He added: "This is not an attack on gambling. We want a decent balance of shops on our high streets. It’s about time the odds are shifted in favour of betting shops to the side of residents."

The Labour politician, battling against former MP Oona King to be named the party's nomination for the 2012 elections, said he believed there should be a separate planning class for betting shops to give councils and residents the power to determine their location and overall numbers.

Mr Lammy is currently backing a campaign against Paddy Power who hope to take over 30-year-old independent record shop, in High Road, Tottenham.

He said: “In Tottenham there are 39 bookmakers, but no bookshops. That must change. We must give communities with new powers to ensure our high streets are thriving environments and not dominated by betting shops.

"It is surely wrong that they cannot deny an application for a betting shop on the basis of the number of betting shops that are already open in the area."

The Tottenham MP will join his colleague this evening at the site of the former Railway Tavern Pub, in Hackney, which is now being redeveloped as a Paddy Power bookmakers.

A mass anti-gambling shop rally will take place outside Every Bodies Music, in High Road, Tottenham, starting at 12pm on Saturday.