A showman’s gamble on winning a planning appeal for a controversial town centre adult gaming arcade has paid off, after overturning a council decision to reject his scheme.

Symond’s Yat West Leisure Park and Barry Island Funfair owner Henry Danter has owned 2-4 Monnow Street at the Agincourt Square pinch-point in Monmouth for some 30 years, and unveiled plans to open a slot machine arcade in the Grade II-listed building last year after the DS Music shop quit its tenancy.

Hundreds objected to the Whitchurch-based 78-year-old’s change of use bid near the historic Shire Hall, including the headteachers of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and Monmouth Comprehensive.

They said in a joint statement putting an arcade in the conservation zone Grade II-listed building would pose a “major safeguarding threat” with a “negative impact” on pupils’ wellbeing.

Monmouth MP David Davies also raised residents’ concerns with planners, who received a 400-name petition and some 300 objection letters, while the town’s Chamber of Trade joined the town council in opposing it, saying it was “completely inappropriate” for the “attractive and historic” square.

But Welsh Government planning inspector Ian Stevens said he saw no reason to deny the appeal on planning grounds, stating that in contrast to Monmouthshire Council’s grounds for refusing permission in August 2021, it “would safeguard the vitality and viability of Monmouth town centre” and attract “footfall”.

He added: “The council’s Conservation officer raises no objection to the proposal…

“Given the proposal is for a change of use only in a town centre location, with the council confirming that no physical alterations to the unit are proposed, I am satisfied that the character and appearance of the Conservation Area would be preserved.”

And he said that while he understood concerns about the social impact of a gaming arcade in the town, he was “not convinced that there would be demonstrable social harm arising from the proposed use”, given that it would be governed by licensing rules, an age restriction of 21 and over and other measures.

The news will delight the Whitchurch-based showman, who also owns several other arcades and aims to call the new business Carousel. Mr Danter was awarded a gaming licence for the property, which currently features large adverts for Barry Island Funfair on its windows, by Monmouthshire Council before being turned down for the change of use.