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New blow to Blues' plan for casino
Sep 28 2005
By Paul Dale, Chief Reporter
Birmingham City Football Club's chances of financing a new ground off the back of a regional casino have suffered a serious setback.
Three Washwood Heath city councillors, whose ward includes the Saltley site earmarked by Blues for a £200 million stadium, issued a cross-party statement objecting to the scheme on moral and religious grounds.
But Blues' managing director Karren Brady last night rejected their criticisms, saying their comments were "narrow minded" and based on misconceptions about the club's proposals.
The statement by Tariq Khan, Mohammed Idrees and Ansar Ali Khan claimed a casino in a poverty-struck inner city area close to housing would encourage young people on benefits to gamble and lead to increased crime.
Opposition to the Blues' proposal was not a Muslim issue but was backed by the wider community including a range of faiths and religions and others who did not believe in gambling, they said.
"We have both churches and mosques against this. This needs to be respected," the councillors added.
The statement went on: "If the casino was located on the Wheels site this would have a negative impact on the environment causing traffic congestion, parking problems, pollution and litter into the early hours of the morning.
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"Crime and drug dealing is another factor that needs to be looked at. The opening of a casino is certain to attract anti-social behaviour from inside and outside the area and this is a huge concern for residents."
The Saltley councillors are not opposed to a regional casino in principle but they believe it should be located on a more appropriate site away from housing.
Their stance makes it more likely that Birmingham City Council will swing behind an alternative scheme to build a regional casino at the National Exhibition Centre.
Both council leader Mike Whitby and Labour opposition leader Sir Albert Bore have said they believe the NEC is the obvious site for a regional casino because it is isolated and away from residential areas.
Council cabinet regeneration member Ken Hardeman, however, is backing the Blues' scheme.
The council is investigating a compromise which would use the capital receipts and income stream from an NEC casino to help to pay for a City of Birmingham Stadium at Saltley.
But the idea was rejected by Brady who said that only by having a casino on the site of the proposed stadium would enough funding be available for a sporting village which would act as a catalyst for regeneration.
Council pulls out of casino race Mar 21 2006
Birmingham City Council is out of the race for Britain's first super-casino - leaving Solihull with a clear run to campaign for an American-style gambling complex at the National Exhibition Centre.
'Brady broke casino pact' Mar 17 2006
The NEC Group last night launched an extraordinary attack on Karren Brady, accusing the Birmingham City FC managing director of behaving dishonourably over the super-casino issue.
Prescott inquiry backs NEC casino Mar 14 2006
The bid for a "Style City" super-casino at the National Exhibition Centre has emerged as a front-runner in an independent inquiry commissioned by the Government.
Chamber paid £1m to promote NEC Mar 10 2006
The row over the Birmingham super-casino bid has intensified with the revelation that the city's Chamber of Commerce has been paid more than £1 million to promote the NEC Group.
Ricoh appeal to city council Mar 8 2006
Leaders of Coventry Council have formally submitted an application to the Government for permission to open the country's first super-casino - and challenged Birmingham to pull out of the race.
Chamber in casino poll row Mar 2 2006
Supporters of rival super-casino bids were engaged in a furious war of words today after business leaders vowed to press ahead with a controversial ballot.
Top property consultant says back NEC's casino bid Feb 27 2006
A leading property consultant has urged city council leaders to throw their weight behind proposals for the National Exhibition Centre to be the home of the country's first super-casino.
Super-casino plans 'will lead to more addicts' Jan 4 2006
The head of a Birmingham-based gaming watchdog has broken with official Government policy by admitting that super-casinos are bound to lead to an increase in gambling addiction.
Chaos reigns in Council casino decision Dec 16 2005
The process for deciding whether Birmingham will get a super-casino descended into confusion last night after the city council was forced to delay making a decision on which of two rival bids to support.
Brady dismisses NEC casino bid Dec 14 2005
Birmingham City FC chief executive Karren Brady has dismissed as "unworkable" a bid by the National Exhibition Centre to become the home for the country ' s first super-casino.
Coventry's hopes for casino 'fading fast' Oct 10 2005
Coventry's chances of winning Government approval for a super-casino are fading by the day, according to a senior member of Birmingham City Council's cabinet.
Stadium must have casino, insists Brady Sep 20 2005
The managing director of Birmingham City Football Club yesterday rejected suggestions that the club's new "super-stadium" could be built without a casino.
Blues anger at council help for NEC casino bid Sep 16 2005
Birmingham City Council has been plunged into a damaging row over conflict of interest after it emerged senior officials have been helping the National Exhibition Centre's bid for a super-casino.
City plea to Muslims over casino Sep 12 2005
Muslims are being urged to drop opposition to a Birmingham super-casino in return for a promise that the project will regenerate a run-down inner city area.
City to press ahead with bid for super-casino Aug 12 2005
It is an odds-on bet that Birmingham will submit a bid to the Government for permission to open a super-casino, according to the politician in charge of the city's regeneration portfolio.
NEC puts casino plans in spotlight Apr 7 2005
The National Exhibition Centre is reconsidering ambitious plans to site one of the Government's super casinos at the complex following a change in the proposed gambling legislation.
Super casino crucial to NEC, warns councillor Jan 7 2005
The National Exhibition Centre could face an uncertain future if a massive super casino is not built at the complex, council leaders in Solihull were told.
Five in running for NEC casino Dec 1 2004
Five global casino operators have been shortlisted to develop a Las Vegas-style complex at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.
Brum's casino jackpot Oct 21 2004
Eight international gaming companies are battling to open major casinos in Birmingham which would pump millions of pounds into the local economy each year.
NEC casino plan for 'Las Vegas of the UK' Sep 23 2004
Birmingham is aiming to turn itself into the Las Vegas of the UK with a new multi-million pound casino and concert venue at the National Exhibition Centre.
