Council Keeps Cards Close To Its Chest On Casino Issue

Ceredigion Council is staying tight-lipped whether it will lobby for a casino in the county.

The council, along with other local authorities, has been asked by the Government's Casino Advisory Panel to make its case if it wants a casino. The CAP wants information from councils about how a casino would fit into the area, and general information such as economic prosperity of the area. But the council is staying silent on its plans and whether it has an interest in bidding for one of the 17 new casinos the Government believes would help economic development and regeneration of areas.

The Government's plans will see one large regional casino of at least 5,000 square metres, another eight large casinos with a minimum customer floor space of 1,500 square metres. Eight small casinos would have a minimum customer floor space of 750 square metres. Professor Stephen Crow, the chairman of the panel, said that the panel would be considering information from all interested councils.

He said: "We know that there has been a great deal of speculation about where the 17 new regional, large and small casinos are to be located. We have already done some background research on the subject, but until we see all the evidence we are keeping entirely open minds and have no preconceived ideas where the casinos should go. That is why we have formally invited local authorities who want a casino to provide us with evidence about their areas. We have published detailed guidance setting out the criteria we are using and the information we will require in order to assist our decision making."

He added: "We hope this guidance will enable local authorities to provide material for us that is both concise and relevant. We hope also that it will ensure that we get comparable information for all areas." And if Ceredigion Council is interested, it will have to make its case before the end of March."

Professor Crow said: "I cannot emphasise too much that it is evidence we are looking for, not marketing. That is why we have been very specific about the information we need. It is also very important that proposals are sent to us by the closing date of 31 March 2006 so that we can allow time for a fair and thorough examination of that evidence."

If the panel considers areas could be suitable for casinos, it will then hear from interested people who could potentially operate a casino there.