Brewer wants supercasino decision overturned
Lancashire brewer Daniel Thwaites has written to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell asking her to review the decision not to award Blackpool the 'supercasino' licence.
Paul Howarth, retail operations director, wrote after the panel tasked with assessing all the bids suggested Manchester as the venue for the supercasino instead.
I would strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and reassess Blackpool's credentials for this licence Paul Howarth, Thwaites' retail operations director.
His letter says: "It was with great surprise that we learned of the decision to overlook Blackpool's bid when awarding the recent regional casino licence. As a business that operates and supplies many establishments in the Blackpool area, we believe that much of the report used in coming to this decision was deeply flawed.
"It seems staggering that Blackpool has been unsuccessful as a destination for this project, especially when you consider that the area has carefully prepared to deliver a casino-based regeneration programme for many years, unlike its competitors who are only now investigating those plans."
Howarth goes on to say: "National opinion polls have also shown that, as a destination resort, the British public fully believe that Blackpool is the right and logical choice for the regional licence - and the private investment that this undoubtedly brings would spearhead the regeneration that Blackpool has led the way in promoting.
"That investment would include the creation of thousands of jobs, with Blackpool already having proven that it is uniquely placed to recruit and train the staff necessary to fill these roles."
He adds: "We firmly believe from our involvement with the licensed trade in Blackpool that, contrary to the panel's conclusion, the casino would act as the catalyst for reversing this aforementioned decline.
Howarth said Thwaites was "hugely fearful that the decision… will strike a real blow to Blackpool's vision of a popular and successful regeneration".
He added: "With all of the above in mind, I would strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and reassess Blackpool's credentials for this licence."
