Uncertainty over future of Peterborough Betfred's stores as company announces 132 closures across the country

A total of 132 of the shops operated by the high street bookies are set to be closed from September. This would result in a loss of 600 jobs across the country.

The company has said that the decision has been taken as a response to the ‘current fiscal and regulatory environment.’

Peterborough is currently home to seven Betfred stores located on Bridge Street, Broadway, Eastfield Road, Sugar Way, Lawson Avenue, Newark Avenue and Bretton Green.

There is also a Betfred on High Street in Stamford.

When contacted by the Peterborough Telegraph, Betfred said that it was unable to comment on the future of any of the shops in Peterborough.

Instead, Jo Whittaker, CEO of Betfred, said: “It is with deep regret that we have today started a consultation with colleagues working in more than 130 of our shops regarding a proposal to close those locations.

"We have tried hard to protect all our sites and the colleagues who work in them, but the combined impact of higher employer National Insurance contributions, wage inflation, increases in gambling taxes and wider economic uncertainty has left us with no choice.

“These are well-run shops, staffed by dedicated colleagues, and it is incredibly hard to see any of them close, but the current fiscal and regulatory environment has made it impossible to keep trading all our shops.

"Our priority now is to support the colleagues affected, and to continue serving customers and communities across the rest of our estate.”