Council Chief Wants Cameron To Change Casino Stance

The leader of Coventry City Council has pledged to take his fight for a super casino in Coventry all the way to the top of his party.

Coun Ken Taylor, speaking on the BBC's Politics Show on Sunday, said he was disappointed the Conservatives had forced the Government to water down the Gambling Bill, meaning just one super casino was on offer for the whole country instead of the original plans for eight.

The Conservative-controlled city council wants a super casino built at the Ricoh Arena, where American company Isle Of Capri plans to open a casino.

Currently Isle Of Capri plans to open a casino under existing gambling legislation, but originally wanted to build a Las Vegas-style casino under the Government's plans to radically shake up the country's gambling laws.

If Coventry wins the solitary super casino licence currently on offer, Isle Of Capri looks set to revert to its original plans.

But council chiefs remain hopeful of persuading the Government to revert to the original draft of the Gambling Bill, which included the plans for eight super casinos.

Speaking on the Politics Show, Coun Taylor said the first he heard of the Conservative's opposition to the Government's plans was when he read about it in newspapers.

"We heard it through the press and we were very disappointed, I have to say, because if they had consulted us we would have given some different views on the subject," Coun Taylor said.

He added he now plans to seek a meeting with new Tory leader David Cameron in the hope of persuading the party to change its stance on the issue.

"I'm going to hammer my message over to the shadow minister and David Cameron," Coun Taylor said.

"Quite clearly he's the man who's going to make the decisions. I want eight super casino licences back on the agenda and he's the man I'm going to speak to."