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Government denies changing casino plans
William Green Political Correspondent THE Government yesterday insisted there had been "no change of policy" over super-casinos after claims it could back the construction of up to eight of them.
Ministers had originally proposed allowing up to 40, before scaling down the plans to eight and finally just one in a last-minute deal with the Tories to save the Government's Gambling Bill before the General Election.
But yesterday it was reported that Ministers could return to supporting eight which could have implications for Yorkshire.
Casino operator Stanley Leisure unveiled plans for a 125m complex next to Leeds United's football ground that could create more than 1,000 jobs. The seven-acre Elland Road site would feature a 150,000 sq ft casino, as well as a hotel, restaurants, bars, leisure facilities and designer shops.
Several proposals have also been put forward in Sheffield, including a 110m scheme which could create 1,500 jobs from South Africa's Sun International.
MGM Mirage said it hoped to build a 200m casino on land near Meadowhall which would include a conference centre, health club and restaurant complex – generating an estimated 1,500 permanent jobs.
And Las Vegas Sands has said it wants to build a slightly-smaller casino at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground.
But a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport yesterday insisted that there had been "no change of policy" despite the report, in the London Evening Standard with only one regional casino proposed.
Shadow culture secretary Theresa May warned of "a great deal of anger" if the Government was to go back on the deal. "There has never been a super-casino in Britain, and no-one knows what the social effects of it will be," she said.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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