Blackpool Council has admitted to being "surprised and disappointed" at losing out in the race for the licence for the UK's first regional casino, declaring the decision to award the licence to nearby Manchester a "missed opportunity."
Steve Weaver, CEO of Blackpool Council, said: "We are surprised and hugely disappointed by the panel’s recommendation but we are not giving up. The decision that the panel is proposing is an enormous missed opportunity for Blackpool to become a world-class resort destination.
"A regional casino would be a catalyst for substantial change in Blackpool,” continued Mr Weaver. “We are also the people’s choice nationally having received well over twice as much support nationally as any other location.
"We are convinced that casino-led regeneration remains the best and right solution for Blackpool. We will therefore seek to influence the final decision which lies with the Secretary of State who can increase the number of licences.
“Should we be unsuccessful in this our strategic aim of casino based regeneration remains the same and we will pull out all the stops to ensure Blackpool benefits from the second wave.
“Our ability to deliver our vision of the ‘New Blackpool’ will be severely constrained without a regional casino but we will continue to pursue the improvements we have already started with, the new sea wall, tramway, shopping centre and development sites that will put us in a good position to take advantage of a regional casino when we do get a licence.
"The final decision will now be in the hands of the Government and I urge them to look again at Blackpool’s bid and the town’s need for a significant catalyst to kick start regeneration and reverse the growing decline."
ReBlackpool CEO, Doug Garrett, added: "Blackpool will keep on fighting for a regional casino. Our public and political support is overwhelming and we are hopeful that the weight of that could influence the final decision. For the past six years we have argued that casino led regeneration is the best option for Blackpool and that is still the case."
