Casino News

Casino approved at Southend United stadium

2009-04-23 08:11:58

A casino is to be included at Southend United's new football stadium, it has emerged.

Plans for the 22,000-seater venue to include the facility were approved by Southend Council's cabinet, the Echo reports.

The casino will be the town's fourth and was originally planned as an extension to a Mecca Bingo, but the Rank Group's licence allows for it to be built anywhere planning permission has been granted in the town.

Southend United intend to include a youth academy at the new Fossetts Farm stadium and chairman Ron Martin told the publication that the answer to Rank's proposition build a casino was "obvious".

"Without it, the football academy we are trying to provide would not be a feasible proposition," he was quoted as saying.

The development was originally given the go-ahead in July of last year and is also set to feature a Morrisons supermarket, as well as leisure facilities.