Blackpool's Coral Island Not A Gambling Shed

Bosses at Blackpool's biggest amusement arcade today hit back at claims they run a Golden Mile "gambling shed".

The Noble Organisation, which owns Coral Island and has consistently opposed Blackpool's super Casino bid, came under fire during a heated House of Lords debate this week.

It resulted in peers shooting down Manchester's selection as location for the UK's first Las Vegas-style gambling mecca.

The vote proved an embarrassing defeat for the Government and may open the door for Blackpool's casino bid to be revived if, as demanded by peers, a scrutiny committee is set up to review the selection process.

Prior to the debate, an advert was placed in national newspapers slating Blackpool's bid and urging MPs and peers to vote for Manchester.

The ad was backed by Noble and several opposition councillors, including anti-casino campaigner Coun Steven Bate.

In response, Lord Tom McNally of Blackpool said: "Coun Bate, a Liberal councillor in Blackpool, seems to have got very active in recent days. I ask Lords to look at the list of people supporting him and particularly at the name, Noble Organisation, which is a company based in Gateshead. If you want to see a gambling shed, go to Coral Island on the Blackpool Golden Mile, owned by the Noble Organisation. I went there recently and saw it packed to the gunnels with gaming machines, sucking in the vulnerable and sucking out money from the town and making no contribution at all. I contrast that with what a super casino would have brought in – massive new investment and the kind of training that is already taking place at Blackpool and The Fylde College for young people to work in the new industries."

But David Biesterfield, a director of the Noble Organisation, defended his company which he said had invested millions of pounds in Blackpool.

Coral Island attracts around four million visitors a year.

He said: "I note Lord McNally went out of his way to discredit and slander the Noble Organisation under the guise of Parliamentary privilege. It shows a lack of any sense of judgement that he makes these sort of accusations in such an underhand way."

The firm was refused permission in 2006 for a casino at the old Palace nightclub. It has appealed against that decision.

Mr Biesterfield added: "What we are proposing is no different to the other casinos that exist in Blackpool except that it will be geared towards the tourist market. It would have a very small number of slot machines and a very significant showbar. It would never compete with a regional casino, but it would lead to significant regeneration of the Palatine building. However, Blackpool doesn't seem to be interested in regeneration unless it's a casino with 1,250 Category A slot machines."

Meanwhile, the Government is considering its options after its defeat in The Lords. It is set to report back to Parliament after May's local elections.