Blackpool Ranks Third in Super Casino Race
Blackpool Town Hall leaders retain a positive attitude despite the resort being ranked third in the list of the Casino Advisory Panel.
The Millennium Dome in Greenwich bagged the top spot followed by Glasgow, Scotland. The judging was just the first of a series, and the panel has assured that succeeding tests will not be affected by these results.
The panel has ranked the eight shortlisted locations to host Britain's first Las Vegas type casino. It announced the details in time with the information that it is extending the deadline for submissions from authorities that did not make it to the shortlist.
The locations were judged based on eight criteria, with each criteria having a highest possible score of ten. The Dome garnered 67 points, Glagow 66, Blackpool 65, and Sheffield 62. The lower four were Brent and Newcastle both with 58, while Cardiff and Manchester both had 57.
"It's interesting to see the detail of the panels scoring for the regional casino licence. Our focus however, is as it always has been, in strengthening our already compelling case for a resort casino," Coun Roy Fisher, leader of Blackpool Council, said.
"We're confident we can further justify our case to the Panel at the public examination later this year," he added. "We know our case is strong in all areas. For example ours is included in the statutory draft Regional Spatial Strategy as well as having the full support of the North West Development Agency and the Regional Assembly."
"We also have a crystal clear mandate on "willingness to licence" with all political parties in support and no votes cast against at any Council meeting."
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