Manchester casino block 'unfair'

2008-02-08 16:16:31

Manchester's supercasino will not go ahead, a decision that has been criticised by those involved in the planning process in one of the UK's largest cities.

The news has been branded "unfair" by Angie Robinson, the chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

"A lot of time, effort and money was spent on this bid for a contest which we thought was real," explained Ms Robinson.

She added that Prime Minister Gordon Brown had previously appeared to back the concept of the casino, as the revenue was to be used to fund "desperately needed regeneration plans".

Mr Brown's review of the 2005 Gambling Act has been supported by charities and church groups, despite the disgruntled response from council leaders in Manchester, according to the Telegraph.

Large casinos and smaller new regional casinos will be created, with the latter situated in Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, Scarborough, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Luton, Torbay and East Lindsey in Lincolnshire.