Fears casino will bring more crime

10:50am Tuesday 4th July 2006

DARTFORD Council's proposal to build a casino in Ebbsfleet could lead to gambling problems, prostitution and thefts, says the neighbouring council's leader.

A report to be considered by Gravesham Council next week raises "serious concerns" about Dartford Council's bid for a casino to be built on the Ebbsfleet station site.

Dartford Council wants to open one of 16 casinos nationwide able to boast between 80 and 150 slot machines and offer maximum jackpots of £4,000.

The Government's Casino Advisory Panel announced Dartford Council was unsuccessful in securing a 5,000sq m super casino, but it is still battling with 31 other local authorities for a smaller one.

Gravesham Council leader Councillor John Burden says the authority is "very nervous" about what the casino would mean for the borough.

Although the application was made by Dartford Council, the casino site would be closer to Gravesend town centre than it would be to Dartford, he added.

Cllr Burden says there are fears a casino could attract "associated activities" of prostitution or gambling heavily, leading to crime to fund the habit.

He said members of the public in Gravesham should be able to have their say on whether they want a casino in Ebbsfleet.

Next Monday Gravesham Council's cabinet will meet to decide whether to make a representation to the Casino Advisory Panel.

The report, which will also be considered, says the regenerative benefits of a casino may be overstated as it would only provide less than one per cent of the 20,000 jobs to be created at Ebbsfleet.

It also states "the Ebbsfleet development will result in a wide range of employment types either with or without a casino".

Cllr Burden said there are lots of other leisure routes which could be considered.

He said: "You can't engineer how people spend their life but you can't put undue temptation in the way. There are similar casinos around London and you do get associated trades close to them."

Gravesham's Tory leader Michael Snelling has also raised concerns.

He said: "I have enormous personal concerns that, as we see in the USA, a casino will bring with it prostitution, organised crime and more pressure upon families who suffer from gambling addiction."

Dartford Council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite said: "I understand why they are doing this. I welcome it and I would like to know the outcome of it. We really need to work together on this."