Council says government on track with casino plans despite Brown's review announcement
Manchester council has said that it has been assured by the government that plans to build a supercasino at Sportscity could still go ahead, despite comments made by prime minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday.
In his shock announcement during prime minister’s question time, Brown announced a review of plans to introduce a supercasino to the UK amid concerns that there were better ways to regenerate the area.
However council leader Sir Richard Leese has released a statement saying that plans for the casino “remained on the table”.
He said: “The council has had discussions with senior ministers in the past 24 hours and has been assured that the proposed destination casino at Sportcity remains on the table.”
“I have read Gordon Brown's comments and think the negative analysis which some commentators are placing on them is overstated. There is no need for panic. We will continue to push for a destination casino in East Manchester which we believe will deliver the maximum regeneration benefits,” he said.
The final decision on whether the casino will go ahead will not be made until after the parliamentary recess when ministers have explored other methods of regenerating the area surrounding the proposed site in East Manchester.
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