| Friday, 07 July 2006 | |
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Casino a gamble residents can't afford say residents Residents in Swanscombe have overwhelmingly rejected Dartford Borough Council’s proposal to open a casino at Ebbsfleet. Over a hundred local residents responded to a survey produced by Dartford Labour Party asking for residents views about the proposal with nearly 90% opposing the casino and only 10% backing the idea.Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, who co-ordinated the survey, said; “The survey shows that there is very strong opposition in Swanscombe to the casino. Not only are residents concerned about the possibility that it could give rise to more problem gambling, debt and anti-social behaviour, but they are also sceptical as to whether the casino will create the kind of jobs that Swanscombe really needs at the moment.” The MP has now written to the Casino Advisory Panel, the body which is evaluating the proposals, to express his concern about Dartford’s application. “Ebbsfleet has some of the best road and rail connections in the country, and there is every possibility that some of our leading companies and enterprises will want to set up business here in the future. In view of this I am not sure why it is that the council feels that a casino development is necessary for Ebbsfleet.” “We are already heavily reliant in this area on the retail and leisure sector of the economy as a source of employment, and rather than creating further jobs in the area, I think that we should be looking to diversify our economic base beyond this. Moreover, the sort of jobs that the casino will create will be relatively low skilled and low paid ones, many of which will require night-time shifts, and I am not convinced that this will do anything to assist the ongoing renewal of the area.” “I have told the panel therefore that I don’t think that the opening of a casino at Ebbsfleet is necessary as a catalyst for the regeneration of Kent Thameside, or that it would provide the type of job opportunities that this area requires. I have also asked the panel to consider the concerns of many local residents about the social impact of a casino on this community, and the absence of any tangible support in the community for the proposal, when taking its decision as to whether to recommend this application for approval.” |
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