A SENIOR councillor fears new rules designed to relax planning laws risks seeing Wirral’s high streets overrun by betting shops and payday loan companies.

The Government is cutting red tape in a move to return redundant buildings to productive use on the recommendation of retail guru Mary Portas.

Owners and developers will no longer need permission to change the use of certain buildings from one type of business to another for up to two years.

The Local Government Association believes the reforms will reduce local residents' ability to have a say on changes in their area and risk "draining the life from high streets".

Councillor George Davies, Wirral’s cabinet member for housing and community safety, shares their fears and said he has serious misgivings about the shake-up.

He told the Globe “Central Government introduced the Localism Bill, bringing decisions to a local level. But then they bring about a change to the planning law which means it is possible to alter the use of a building that was, for example, a restaurant without needing any planning permission to do so.

“I think it’s despicable.I can see a day when our high streets will be filled by payday loan units and betting shops.”

The LGA is calling on the Government to allow local areas to decide for themselves if it would be beneficial to relax planning rules.

Its environment and housing board chairman, councillor Mike Jones, said: "People tell us that they're fed up of having their local high streets filled with betting shops and payday loan companies.

"We have been clear that if we're to get people back out shopping in their local town centres, we need to give them more say on what type of businesses and shops open there.

"Instead, from today they will have less.

“There's a very real danger that, in chasing a short-term boost, this panic measure could end up creating real problems in our high streets and doing lasting damage to our towns and cities. This could potentially drain the life from our high streets.

"We desperately need to boost struggling high streets and help new businesses take over empty buildings, but a blanket national policy is not the answer.

"Councils aren't seeking to stop bookies from opening up altogether, but it's important that local areas can have a say."

Planning minister Nick Boles said: "As recommended by Mary Portas, the Government is cutting red tape to make it easier to get redundant buildings in our town centres back into productive use and help increase footfall on local high streets. The alternative is boarded up, empty buildings which create a cycle of decline.

"Councils already have the ability to tackle the cumulative impact of development.

"They have powers under the Gambling Act to licence betting shops and address problems by individual premises."