THE decision to build a supercasino in Manchester is to be investigated by a parliamentary committee.
The choice of East Manchester for the Las Vegas-style gambling complex has proved controversial and MPs and peers will vote on it before Easter.
More than 100 MPs have already signed a Commons motion backing rival Blackpool.
Next week a House of Lords committee will interview the Sports Minister Richard Caborn, reportedly backing Blackpool, and Professor Stephen Crow, who was chairman of the independent Casino Advisory Panel which chose Manchester ahead of Blackpool or London's Dome.
The Draft Gambling Order gave Manchester the right to licence a supercasino and 16 other local authorities the power to grant licences to either large or small casinos.
A spokesman for the Lords committee said: "The purpose of the meeting is not necessarily to challenge the decisions but to improve the House of Lords' understanding of the way the bids were commissioned and the selection process was carried out."
'Transformation'
Professor Crow said in his report, which has been accepted by the government, there was no doubt that Blackpool was in desperate need of regeneration but the question was whether a supercasino there would revive it. He added: "We do not think that a regional casino on its own would effect the transformation sought locally."
The choice of Manchester surprised MPs and ministers alike. It will have up to 1,250 unlimited jackpot gaming machines, a swimming pool, restaurants, a nightclub and hotel on a site in Beswick, close to the City of Manchester Stadium.
Those behind the bid say it will bring investment of £265m to one of the most deprived parts of the country and create 2,700 jobs.
MPs will debate it before Easter but will not have a chance to vote against Manchester alone - they will have to approve all 17 casino sites or none. But peers are threatening to vote against and urge the government to reconsider the choice.
READ the latest gossip and opinion on the Supercasino bids, in the brilliant David Ottewell blog 'The Party Animal'.
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for gods sake, let blackpool have it if they want it so much!
I thought the location of the supercasino wasn't just about regeneration, but as much as choosing a suitable social testbed for possible further expansion around the country?
Richard Caborn & John Prescott meanwhile - have always been anti Manchester!
Let blackpool have it and give (Sir)Richard and his cronies FREE MEMBERSHIP for life and all the champagne they can drink "For life" and then everybody will be happy Even the laughing policeman. heeheehheehe
Let Blackpool Have, Then when it dont improve the sea side rust sort what will they come up with next. Manchester deserved to win it, because unlike Blackpool its not sitting on its ass, but working hard to rebuild itself, new housing,which none of us can afford, but its new housing anyway. new bars clubs cafes, hotels. Stadiums and now a super casino. Manchester ROCKS
If Blackpool had control of the land where they want to build maybe... tyheir bid was a shambles by the looks which is no doubt why they didn't get it when people, myself included, thought it made most sense. It's the right destination but the leegalities are a mess and the politicians inept.
For the umpteenth time MOST of us in manchester DONT WANT IT. Blackpool, take it away, it's yours, you can have it, if the gamblers of manchester are desperate enough they'll hop on a train to get there!
Its great that manchester has got the chance to do something like this. why not! Its gives people more things to do!