What’s on the Table in Casino Bid

An exhibition outlining the fledgling plans for a casino in Bath will be staged this week.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has applied to the Government for permission to have a small casino in the city.

Bath is among 31 locations chasing 16 licences – eight for small casinos and eight for larger venues. The council will find out on January 30 if it has been chosen by the Government’s Casino Advisory Panel.

On Friday and Saturday, the council is laying on an exhibition giving all the latest information about its bid. The event will take place in the exhibition room of Bath’s Central Library at The Podium.

There will be display boards outlining the background to the bid, possible sites and details of the plans, while council officers will answering questions.

The exhibition will be open from 10am to 5pm on Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

The council says the exhibition will explain why B&NES wants a casino, what other facilities might be linked to it and what would be done to combat potential social problems such as gambling addiction.

People will be encouraged to make their views heard at the event.

There are at least six locations mooted for a casino, with up to 600 jobs likely to be created once related facilities such as possible new hotels have been added.

Cllr Colin Darracott, the council’s executive member for economic development, said the authority was committed to ensuring people were kept up-to-date with the bid.

„As well as giving members of the public an opportunity to find out more about the bid, this consultation will give everyone a chance to have their say.

„The bid is also an important part of the Future for Bath Vision, which aims to build a long-term, sustainable economy for the city and the surrounding area.“

The national panel’s report next month will make recommendations for one regional or „super casino“, eight large and eight small facilities – likely to be between 750 and 1,500 sq metres in size.

B &NES has applied for an attraction it says would be roughly the size of the city’s Habitat store, with table-based gambling aimed at the upper end of the market.

Possible locations include Green Park Station, the Western Riverside, Saw Close, The Podium/old cattle market, Terrace Walk/Empire Undercroft and Manvers Street/South Parade.