A COUNCILLOR is calling for a limit on the number of betting shops in Weymouth.

Independent bookmaker Betfred, which has a shop in Dorchester Road, will this year bring two new shops to the town centre.

One will be located in St Thomas Street and the other on Frederick Place.

It will take the total number of betting shops in Weymouth to nine. Dorchester has two.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Councillor Kate Wheller, spokesman for leisure and tourism, said the shops could be pricing out independent retailers.

The latest additions will replace the Fairprice discount shop and children's store Snows.

Coun Wheller said: "I am sure Betfred believes there is a market for more betting shops but personally I am concerned. I don't like to see the loss of retail units in the town.

"We are losing independent outlets and I am not sure we need more betting shops. Nine seems like an awful lot to me."

Coun Wheller said she would like to see a policy limiting the number of betting shops in Weymouth.

"People like going to the pub on a Saturday afternoon, having a pint and putting a few pounds on the horses. I wouldn't want to stop that but there are more and more people who are becoming addicted to gambling and that causes an awful lot of grief for families. There needs to be some control."

Betfred is the biggest independent bookmaker and has more than 7,000 shops and an annual turnover of £1.5billion.

Development manager Mark Stebbings said the company wanted to take business from competitor Ladbrokes in Weymouth.

He said: "There is not going to be any more gambling as a result of these shops, it is just going to be a case of taking business away from existing operators in the town."

He said the company hoped to open both shops later this year.

Licences for both betting shops have been granted by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council but planning agreements are not yet completed.