31st January 2007

Manchester has been chosen for the site of Britain's first Mega Casino. Sheffield Green's are very pleased to have helped in the campaign to stop it coming to Sheffield, but are concerned about the problems that our neighbours in Manchester can now expect.

Quote from Cllr Jillian Creasy:

"I took a stand against Sheffield's bid for a Super Casino from the start. The Green Party's argument has been that, far from creating jobs, a Super Casino would damage the existing entertainment industry in the city centre and suck money out of the local economy. Leading figures in the city ignored the evidence and backed the bid, but found themselves facing a powerful campaign."

Chronology:

Summer 2004 Overtures to Sheffield from 3 international casino companies

Autumn 2004 SCC Executive announce they will be looking to bid for Super Casino license and commissioning surveys into economic and health/social effects

Dec 2004 Cllr Creasy puts motion to Council asking for environmental survey; Labour and Lib Dems put amendments expressing support for bid

2005 Ernst and Young report (commissioned by Region) states that Sheffield would be best place for Super Casino in S Yorkshire but warns that it would damage existing entertainment industry in Sheffield city centre as well as Barnsley and Rotherham (points out that 80% of people visiting Meadowhall, our so-called regional shopping centre, come from within a 15 minute drive time); also that there would be massive displacement of long term jobs and that the "local multiplier" (i.e. indirect employment produced by Super Casino) is very poor. The health/social report was never commissioned.

May 2005 Green Party puts anti Super Casino stance in election leaflets Early 2006 Sheffield City Council makes its bid without consulting with the LSP, Sheffield First, but asks them to look into how to ameliorate health and social ill effects should the bid be successful; Bishop Jack agrees to chair Casino Task Force

April 2006 Further Gree motion asking for proper debate before going ahead with bid

June 2006 Large public meeting addressed by Cllr Steven Bate from Blackpool (casino operators and council leaders decline to attend); Sheffield Campaign Against Supercasino expansion is formed.

July 2006 Lib Dem put motion calling for referendum, though their leader already committed to backing the bid including support for the "likelihood of licensing" aspect of Casino Advisory Panel enquiry.

October 2006 Cllr Creasy gives evidence to the Casino Advisory Panel's Examination in Public alongside David Price from Sheffield Poverty Action Group and Sylvia Hamilton from Darnall Community Forum (who stoutly refused to come down on one side but wanted questions answered); the economic and environmental effects are brought out - M1 corridor already breaches European air quality levels and Highways Agency would not allow more development unless this was reversed.

November 06 Sheffield City Council organises "public meeting" to present findings of Casino Task Force but not to question bid itself

For more information, contact Kathy Aston

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