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and Falmer was turned down, here's an alternative use for the site. Viva Las Falmer!
From the Argus.....
Super casino on the cards
by Brendan Montague
A Las Vegas-style gaming complex could generate hundreds of jobs and add millions to Brighton and Hove's economy.
Hospitality and entertainment group Hilton - which already has plans for a super-casino in Blackpool - has targeted Brighton and Hove for a second development.
The news emerged 48 hours after MPs voted on the controversial Gambling Bill and as the group confirmed it is in talks with council planners in Blackpool to sink £200 million into a casino there.
The company said its plans for Blackpool should be seen as "precedent" for any development in Brighton.
But the hotelier has warned it will scrap both projects if the Bill introduces punitive taxes on operators or fails to strictly regulate the number of giant casinos.
The Hilton group, which owns the Ladbrokes chain of bookies as well as the seafront Hilton Metropole and Hilton West Pier hotels, confirmed Brighton is on a shortlist of about five resorts for the proposed development.
But Garry Peltzer Dunn, leader of the Conservative opposition on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "I can see the possible economical gain but I continue to have grave reservations regarding the principle of the entire matter. I feel such a development in Brighton might trap even more people in the gambling web."
Councillor Keith Taylor, the convenor of the Greens, will table a motion at the next full council meeting effectively ruling out super-casinos.
He said: "This would be bad for Brighton and increase the risk of more people becoming addicted to gambling."
Alex Pagett, the Hilton group's corporate director, said a gaming resort in Brighton would include luxury hotel rooms, entertainment and restaurants as well as gambling rooms.
He said the company could pull together the respected Hilton brand with its Ladbrokes marque for a new breed of "megacinos".
He added: "Brighton has a lot of attraction but a lot will hinge on the attitude locally in terms of the local authority.
"We have created a lot of jobs in Brighton and have been established a while. We are no fly-by-nights coming in to make a quick buck but would be injecting investment into the economy.
"We cannot just barge in there and get what we want. There does have to be clear evidence of demand.
"If there is opposition we are not going to go ahead - there is no point."
Under the proposed changes in the law the council would have the power to refuse or approve plans for such developments.
Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "I do not welcome or support any such proposals but neither to I oppose it.
"If companies come forward with proposals which are part of a wider development we would give it due consideration."
Meanwhile The Argus has learnt a new casino is expected to be among a number of proposals for the new Brighton Centre development.
Coun Simon Burgess, chair of the Brighton Centre project board, said: "A set of options will go to the Brighton Centre project board in December.
"There has been a huge amount of work done about how we might create a new convention centre and radically improve the surrounding area.
"The final funding package for this could include a range of options such as public money, retail, housing, hotel and leisure and this could potentially include a casino."
From the Argus.....
Super casino on the cards
by Brendan Montague
A Las Vegas-style gaming complex could generate hundreds of jobs and add millions to Brighton and Hove's economy.
Hospitality and entertainment group Hilton - which already has plans for a super-casino in Blackpool - has targeted Brighton and Hove for a second development.
The news emerged 48 hours after MPs voted on the controversial Gambling Bill and as the group confirmed it is in talks with council planners in Blackpool to sink £200 million into a casino there.
The company said its plans for Blackpool should be seen as "precedent" for any development in Brighton.
But the hotelier has warned it will scrap both projects if the Bill introduces punitive taxes on operators or fails to strictly regulate the number of giant casinos.
The Hilton group, which owns the Ladbrokes chain of bookies as well as the seafront Hilton Metropole and Hilton West Pier hotels, confirmed Brighton is on a shortlist of about five resorts for the proposed development.
But Garry Peltzer Dunn, leader of the Conservative opposition on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "I can see the possible economical gain but I continue to have grave reservations regarding the principle of the entire matter. I feel such a development in Brighton might trap even more people in the gambling web."
Councillor Keith Taylor, the convenor of the Greens, will table a motion at the next full council meeting effectively ruling out super-casinos.
He said: "This would be bad for Brighton and increase the risk of more people becoming addicted to gambling."
Alex Pagett, the Hilton group's corporate director, said a gaming resort in Brighton would include luxury hotel rooms, entertainment and restaurants as well as gambling rooms.
He said the company could pull together the respected Hilton brand with its Ladbrokes marque for a new breed of "megacinos".
He added: "Brighton has a lot of attraction but a lot will hinge on the attitude locally in terms of the local authority.
"We have created a lot of jobs in Brighton and have been established a while. We are no fly-by-nights coming in to make a quick buck but would be injecting investment into the economy.
"We cannot just barge in there and get what we want. There does have to be clear evidence of demand.
"If there is opposition we are not going to go ahead - there is no point."
Under the proposed changes in the law the council would have the power to refuse or approve plans for such developments.
Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "I do not welcome or support any such proposals but neither to I oppose it.
"If companies come forward with proposals which are part of a wider development we would give it due consideration."
Meanwhile The Argus has learnt a new casino is expected to be among a number of proposals for the new Brighton Centre development.
Coun Simon Burgess, chair of the Brighton Centre project board, said: "A set of options will go to the Brighton Centre project board in December.
"There has been a huge amount of work done about how we might create a new convention centre and radically improve the surrounding area.
"The final funding package for this could include a range of options such as public money, retail, housing, hotel and leisure and this could potentially include a casino."