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Blackpool casino hopes revived



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Published Date: 21 May 2008
By Shelagh Parkinson
BLACKPOOL should still be given the opportunity to use casinos as a form of regeneration, the House of Lords has been told.
Lord McNally of Blackpool said gambling licences could be transferred to the resort if they are not taken up by other towns.

His comments came during a debate confirming legislation to allow 16 new large and small casinos to open.

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The vote followed an order in the House of Commons in February which effectively spelt the end of the supercasino, which was not included in the order.

Referring to speculation that some towns included in the order may now not want to take up their licence, Lord McNally said: "That prompts the question if all 16 are not taken up is there enough flexibility in this legislation, or can the Government use enough common sense, to reallocate those licences to other areas?

"I believe some of the benefits, which would have come from a resort casino, could still be won by Blackpool, by attracting willing casino investors.

"They would operate not just a stand-alone casino operation but a resort casino, which would operate as the nucleus of an entertainment centre, a retail centre, a leisure centre and a restaurant centre."

Large casinos under the new legislation have the right to operate 150 machines with jackpots of £5,000. The supercasino would have offered 1,250 slot machines with a top prize of £1m.

Lord Faulkner of Worcester backed the view, saying: "If there is a decline in interest in the number of large and small casinos, the Government could also give an undertaking that, if a local authority does not want to take one of these, an authority such as Blackpool should be able to take their place."

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said he still hoped casinos could make up an element of future regeneration.

He said: "If there were potential to change future legislation then that might mean one or two of these licences could come to Blackpool and be an important part of future regeneration."

He added: "Once again the government saw the strength of support for Blackpool and that is of assistance in continuing to make our case."

Blackpool Council had hoped to attract around £700m of investment by being the home of the UK's first supercasino.

The full article contains 403 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 21 May 2008 2:02 PM
  • Source: Blackpool Gazette
  • Location: Blackpool
 
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1

beachcomber,

blackpool 21/05/2008 10:46:02
oh no, the dreaded c word again, this will give the oouncil yet another excuse not to do anything. "we are waiting for the casino decision/regeneration" has been the biggest excuse in this town to let it descend into the state it is in for many many years.
2

SoR82,

21/05/2008 11:32:40
Here we go again, no one wanted the damn thing anyhow
3

eric,

21/05/2008 11:48:06
Yes time to drop it eh.i can think of nicer ways to regenerate a small town like blackpool,
4

Rand Hobart,

Blackpool 21/05/2008 13:52:56
Any casino would just be another drain on the towns resources, sucking out profit and funnelling it down to shareholders, or worse overseas...
5

True Blackpudlian ,

Blackpool 21/05/2008 18:08:26
Well said Rand Hobart. The useless House of Lords don't know anything about Blackpool. A casino would be the death of this town and contrary to popular belief I have seen surveys that prove a majority of the town is against casinos not in support. We already have terrible rates of smoking, drinking and durg related deaths, plus sky high benefit claims we don't want gambling addiction capital added to our charge sheet. Let the casino die once and for all, there are much better ways of regenerating if the Government would give us the cash for once instead of promising old money
6

ched999uk,

South Shore 21/05/2008 19:11:02
True Blackpudlian I agree with you in respect of Government money but lets face it the Government wont give Blackpool anything. They 'gave us £80million' as compensation that they had already promised anyway. Then the give Manchester £400million just for extending their trams!!!!
Shows you how willing Gov is to support Blackpool.
I am not into gambling but I do believe that done in the right way 2 Big casinos complexes on Central Car park would be good.
7

True Blackpudlian ,

Blackpool 21/05/2008 21:06:58
I agree the Government and 'local' MPs don't give a flip about Blackpool, liek you say they just re-promised old money which I found very insulting. I feel we should get something on the calibre of the supercasino but without the gambling. How about a massive conference/concert venue with shopping complex something like that? Just a thought anyway.
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