Regional and local context
The current draft of the Regional Spatial Strategy does not refer to casinos but makes frequent reference to Skegness and Mablethorpe and specifically to the need to overcome the severe deprivation they face by, for instance, diversifying their tourism industries in such as way as to improve the economic circumstances of residents. This casino proposal is intended to do exactly that.
The Regional Development Agency is supportive and emda has delegated much of its activity to sub-regional partnerships, in our case Lincolnshire Enterprise. Lincolnshire Enterprise strongly support the proposed casino development and have funded some of the preparatory work.
“We would give our support in principle for bids which were focused on a regeneration zone, such as the Coastal Action Zone on the Lincolnshire Coast, where a casino could help achieve a step change in sustainable economic development.”
East Midlands Development Agency
Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed that the development is in accordance with its strategy for the economic regeneration of the Coastal Action Zone. The County Council has seconded an officer to work with us on casino development and has also made its economic research facilities available to us.
We have already noted the support we have received from Lincolnshire Police, expressing the view that the favourable effects on the crime rate flowing from improved economic conditions will more than offset any increase in disorder problems associated with the casino; and from the East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust, Skegness Chamber of Commerce and others.
The Council has established a local working group of partners to take the casino project forward.
We would note finally that the casino development is fully consistent with the current tourism policies of the East Lindsey Local Plan. Our Local Development Framework is at a very early stage of preparation and is likely to accommodate tourism proposals of this nature.
