SCRAPPING Manchester's supercasino in favour of other regeneration projects would cost 3,000 jobs and £1bn, the city council has claimed.
The figures are revealed in documents sent by town hall officers to a government panel looking at alternative ways of bringing work and economic wealth to the proposed site of the casino at Sportcity.
The dossier was prepared after Gordon Brown called a halt to plans for the supercasino during the summer.
The Prime Minister said he wanted to see whether there were better ways of regenerating areas like east Manchester.
His decision was seen as spelling the end for the scheme, with sources close to Number 10 saying supercasinos were `dead in the water'.
The panel set up to investigate the matter is led by Salford MP Hazel Blears and is due to report in a matter of days.
According to official statistics, Beswick and East Manchester - the area where the supercasino would be built - is one of the most deprived in Britain.
The town hall dossier claims alternative leisure schemes would be `uneconomic' and housing would not be appropriate to the `role and function of the site'.
Funding
Offices would not be `sustainable' without `very significant public funding', and speculative development `not realistic', it adds.
A report on the dossier, in the name of chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, concludes that the planned supercasino and accompanying leisure, sports and housing facilities would bring 3,500 jobs, `the majority of which would be accessible to local residents'.
By contrast, all other uses were `shown to deliver comparatively small benefits', it says.
"The largest impact would be less than 500 jobs," adds the report.
"Overall the lost opportunity to build a mixed use scheme anchored by a regional casino would cost Manchester £1bn… over a ten-year period." Sir Richard Leese, leader of the city council, said: "We have looked in detail at a range of alternative options for the site.
`But none of them would involve any more than 500 new jobs, compared with the 3,000-plus locally accessible jobs which a regional casino would generate.
"Our consistent message has been that the regeneration benefits from a leisure development anchored by a destination casino massively outweigh those which any other potential use of the site would deliver."
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ace, manchester (25/10/2007 at 09:28)
Professor Bob (25/10/2007 at 09:47)
ace, manchester (25/10/2007 at 09:52)
It makes me think why is this council so set on getting a casino in east manchester,they are like a dog with a bone ,it sounds a bit iffy if you ask me? They dont even want to think about anything only a casino????
Bobby, City centre (25/10/2007 at 09:55)
Mark, South Manchester (25/10/2007 at 10:06)
Ultimately though, Manchester was "stabbed in the back" by our fellow Northerners! For it was down to the "successful" Westminster campaign started by Blackpool politicians (based on irrational doom, petty jealousy & self-pity) - that stopped the supercasino coming to Manchester. So thanks Blackpool for costing us 3,000 jobs and not having the patience to be the "promised next in line" for a supercasino!
Finally; New Labour would not have allowed 3 votes in the House of Lords, to prevent a supercasino for their beloved London - would they???
Michael (25/10/2007 at 10:22)
thaitanium (25/10/2007 at 10:44)
To revive the inner cities you want factories that actually make things where skills can be taught over a period of years not a couple of weeks to be a croupier.
flipsterlondon (formally M28), Marylebone, London (25/10/2007 at 11:14)
My personal view is that the building looks amazing and will be another jewel in the crown for Manchester, being right next door to Eastlands it will turn the areas into a destination - just what the area needs me thinks - investment!
I think by the sounds of it the Council has looked at various schemes for the area and this one is the best shot - and boo to gordon for not having the BALLS to agree to it - he is such a pussy.
And why we are at it let Blackpool have one as well.
Ash (25/10/2007 at 11:25)
ruth davis (25/10/2007 at 12:13)
Ash (25/10/2007 at 13:09)
Mandy Davies (25/10/2007 at 14:54)
Mark, South Manchester (25/10/2007 at 15:11)
A whole host of entertainment facilities and top notch restaurants too.
And the economic effect of a supercasino there, would boost the city centre economy too. City wide transport, taxis, hotels, the airport etc etc - would all benefit from the increased visitor numbers to Manchester.
Plus the training opportunities at the supercasino would be world class - from top catering to software design courses/jobs. Because supercasinos are like mini economies - demanding a whole range of semi to highly skilled workers.
As for security, well that whole area would benefit also. The investment in security would be massive and that would inevitably spill into making the whole surrounding area safer. The tender documents would insist upon this. This ain't no 1960s back street casino - we're talking about a world class entertainment facility here.
Yes and the majority of us would go there for special nights out - so why should the "nanny state" punish us just because a minority of problem gamblers exist out there?
Mr Angry, Bury (25/10/2007 at 15:19)
steven Jackson (30/10/2007 at 09:45)
I am guessing you know nothing about Casinos? There is no evidence to suggest that they increase Crime. No evidence at all. In fact the commonsensical view is to the counter. Casinos are so heavily regulated, monitored and policed that crime is virtually non existent in them. Everyone who enters has to provide ID which details their name and address so it would need to be a very stupid criminal who commits a crime in a place, where a picture of him and his home address is held. All studies show that casinos do not = crime. Thus Prof Bob may I suggest that in future you actually make sure know what you are talking about before posting it. Unless of course you have evidence to back up your ludicrous and unfounded claims? I would love to see it if you do?
Have a look at Sun City and as a good example of the social regeneration created by Casinos.