[cma-l] Government publishes alternatives to casino-led regeneration

[CMA-L]

The CMA urges all members to write to their MPs (link below) to ask
that HM Government invests in funding proven regeneration schemes -
namely, community media projects - as an alternative to casino-led
regeneration.

http://www.writetothem.com/

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Government publishes alternatives to casino-led regeneration

The Government has published a new report, which shows that the
benefits of regional casinos can be delivered through alternative, but
equally effective, projects.

The Review of Alternatives to Casino-Led Regeneration finds that in
isolation it would be challenging for any alternatives to achieve the
scale of economic benefits that could be secured through a regional
casino, but that there is uncertainty around the extent to which these
benefits are truly additional. The report goes on to say that once
potential economic and social costs of a regional casino are included,
and a package of alternative options considered, the difference can be
reduced and even eliminated.

The review was commissioned by the Prime Minister in July 2007 to
examine whether deprived areas could be equally well served by other
forms of regeneration, and considered a series of alternative ways to
deliver the benefits a super-casino would bring, including retail and
commercial development, or housing-led regeneration.

The publication of this separate review comes as the Secretary of
State for Culture, Media and Sport takes the decision on the future
for regional casinos in the UK.

The review concludes that measuring the impact of a casino on local
job creation is highly problematic - as is measuring the effect on
inward investment and any other knock-on benefits.

The relatively high pay of casino jobs, for example, can attract
commuters from outside the area, which would mean that local people do
not necessarily benefit, but would still bear the brunt of any risks
faced.

The review also found that the risks and costs associated with smaller
and medium sized casinos are much lower than those faced by larger
regional ones, and are also outweighed by the regeneration benefits.

The report - "A Review of the Alternative Approaches to Regional
Casino-Led Regeneration" - can be found here:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/citiesandregions/casireviewalternatives