Casino 'to create up to 2500 jobs in Glasgow'

A super casino in Glasgow would create 2500 jobs and attract more than half a million extra visitors each year, it was claimed yesterday.

Glasgow City Council quoted the figures in the third of a series of meetings on the merits of the seven venues competing to host the UK's sole supercasino.

The public hearing, held in Glasgow yesterday, follows meetings in London and Cardiff last week. They have been organised by the Casino Advisory Panel - the body charged by the government with advising on the location of the casino - to discuss the impact a supercasino would have in the areas.

Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, told the panel that 2500 jobs would be created. However, Jack McConnell, the First Minister refused to endorse Glasgow's bid. "We need to assess both the positive and negative impacts of such a development," he said at a briefing.

At the meeting yesterday Mr Purcell told the panel: "Casino visitors are expected to contribute as much as ?26m towards Glasgow's economy, attract as many as 600,000 visitors each year and create as many as 2500 jobs.

"Our estimates are backed by the casino operators, who have provided us with information on the scale and nature of potential job creation and applicable wage rates."

If Glasgow is successful, the casino would be built on one of four possible sites in the city: Glasgow Harbour, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, next to Ibrox stadium or behind the St Enoch Centre shopping mall. However, Mr Purcell said any development would be much more than simply a gambling establishment.

"The proposed sites contain plans for entertainment venues, hotels and restaurants," he said. "A regional casino would be a key catalyst to delivering major regeneration in neighbourhoods along the River Clyde corridor."

Sam McEwan, who represented Rangers FC at the meeting, told the panel that if successful the club plans to employ 50% of staff from the local area. He claimed staff would undergo training schemes and that they would work with local colleges to develop training programmes.

He added: "This is to give people real hope, a sense of responsibility and giving them a skill." Further hearings will be heard in Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and Blackpool by the weekend. The panel will then report back to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and the winning bid will be announced by the end of the year.

Mr Purcell claimed that 65% of 1000 people from Glasgow surveyed in March this year supported the supercasino development. He added: "Glasgow will insist any regional casino operator must fund intervention programmes to prevent excessive gambling and assist the minority who have gambling problems."

One objector, Ken Rolwegan, was picked to represent the "man in the street". He said that his church congregation, the Sandyford Henderson Memorial in Glasgow, was "totally opposed to a need for a casino in the area".

Patrick Harvie, a Green list MSP for Glasgow, said: "Pursuing the dream of a supercasino shows a poverty of ambition of all those concerned with its promotion."

The Scottish Executive is due to set out its position on Glasgow's bid later this week. Nicol Stephen, the Deputy First Minister, will publish two reports on the potential economic and social impact on the city.

2006-09-04