 Blackpool is relying on gambling for its regeneration |
Blackpool Council has welcomed the government's decision to bring planned new gambling laws before Parliament during its next session. The Gaming Bill would open the way for Las Vegas-style casinos in the Lancashire resort, which has been hit by declining tourism in recent years.
The council's Masterplan, published in 2003, relies on the bill to help bring in about �1.4bn of investment.
The bill aims to help regenerate deprived areas.
Reg Haslam, head of the Masterplan, said: "We have argued strongly that the new law should be used to help regenerate places like Blackpool.
"By putting regional casinos in Blackpool most people will not have gambling on their doorstep, but we will transform the economy of Blackpool and bring clear benefits to the wider North West region," he added.
'World-class'
The council hopes new gambling laws would help it transform the town into a "21st century world class resort".
But Mr Haslam warned that the Northwest Regional Planning Body and Northwest Development Agency would have to help by ensuring that casinos were built in the town rather than elsewhere in the region.
He said: "If they support Blackpool we are confident we will succeed.
"However, if they let market forces decide where casinos go then that, in effect, is a decision to allow Blackpool to continue to decline."
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