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Council: We're ahead of game on gambling
BLACKPOOL will be ready for the gambling revolution. Council bosses today said they were up to speed on the forthcoming change in law covering gambling regulations.
They were speaking as a Government lobby group said Whitehall's delay in implementing new laws would mean the same chaos and confusion as seen in the run up to last year's extended drinking laws.
As Blackpool's dream to bring the UK's first regional super-casino to the resort gathers pace, officers are busy producing a licensing policy for the expected boom in gambling across the town.
From January 31 next year, businesses that involve gambling such as race courses, bookies, casinos, bingo halls and arcades, will have to apply to their council and have the option to extend their opening hours.
Leading policy group Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors) has now written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Minister Richard Caborn, calling on the Government to delay the timetable for implementation by six months to give councils time to get ready.
But Blackpool Council says it is on track to meet the demands set by the Government.
Coun Fred Jackson, cabinet member for urban environment, said: "We've published our draft licensing policy which is currently open for comment and consultation.
"We're on track to have that finalised and published by the end of the year. That means that locally we are gearing up for the changes in the legislation.
"However, it's the Government which has to produce the regulations and clearly we would hope it is able to do that at the earliest opportunity."
The Government has already received two reports on the issue, criticising the forthcoming Gambling Act.
Coun Geoffrey Theobald, chairman of Lacors, said: "Unless the implementation is delayed, there will be confusion for councils, business and local people.
"It's worrying that we find ourselves in the same situation with gambling as we did with licensing. It seems the Government simply hasn't learned the lessons despite two reports warning of just this.
"From January next year, applications will be coming in and yet councils will have a mere matter of weeks to put the necessary processes in place.
"Councils are in the dark and are unable to put in place coherent policies because guidance from the Government hasn't been forthcoming."
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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