In a barrage of questions to the Mayor and a formal debate at Newham Council meeting on 4 December, Christian Peoples Alliance councillors are challenging the lack of consultation and involvement of the wider Newham community - especially faith groups and those working in areas related to problem gambling - in the proposal for large casino in Newham. (See Editors Notes below for full texts of CPA Questions and Motion.)

"Despite the huge public relations budget, our media-mad town hall has been unusually coy about this controversial project," said Cllr Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance group on Council. "They have deliberately avoided engaging with those who will have to pick up the pieces of lives broken by addiction, personal debt, mental health difficulties, family breakdown and increased crime. Surveys show that these are the inevitable result of the increased gambling that a casino will bring.

"Why has the town hall avoided consulting faith leaders, social and probation services, primary care trusts, hospitals, mental health centres, addiction treatment agencies, debt counsellors and community workers?" demanded Alan Craig. "Research shows that for every £1 of revenue generated by increased gambling there can be £3 of associated social costs, and it is those on low incomes in deprived boroughs like Newham who suffer most.

"We need a casino like a hole in the head. It would be better to site a casino in wealthy Chelsea than in Newham."

The Christian Peoples Alliance also cites research in Australia that shows the net effect of an increase in gambling in a locality is an overall loss in local output, income and jobs especially in disadvantaged urban areas. It is claimed in Australia that two jobs are lost in other businesses for every one created in casinos. "Is the town hall aware that a large casino may actually harm Newham’s local employment and economy?" asked Alan Craig.

Christian Peoples Alliance councillors argue that the casino project should be stopped. "Say No to the casino," said Cllr Craig.

- Ends -

Editors' Notes:

1. Motion

Proposed Large Casino for Newham

Council profoundly regrets that an application has been made for a large casino in Newham without full consultation and without the involvement and endorsement of the wider Newham community, especially faith groups and those working in areas related to ‘problem gambling’.

Council believes that a casino would inappropriately encourage gambling in this already deprived borough with its low personal incomes, and will by its proximity add significantly to the human misery associated with addiction, debt and poverty, mental health problems and family breakdown in Newham.

Furthermore Council does not accept that significant employment or economic benefits will accrue within Newham itself.

Council therefore calls on the mayor to withdraw the application.

2. Questions to the Mayor

The questions tabled by CPA councillors for the Mayor are as follows:

1. Consultation about proposed large casino in Newham
(a) Why has the wider Newham community not been adequately informed about the proposal for a large casino in the borough?
There is a large town hall communications department and budget; why have there been no press releases issued and why has the project not once featured in the Newham Mag?
(b) Does the mayor acknowledge that the wider community has neither been involved in nor endorsed this controversial project?
Why has informed debate not been encouraged?
(c) The government’s Casino Advisory Panel has been formally advised that Newham “has consulted with its 10 Local Community Forums” (Response to Supplementary Questions, 29 September 2006). Would the mayor tell us at which meeting and on what date the Custom House & Canning Town Community Forum – whose area includes one of the possible sites of a casino at ExCel – was consulted?

2. Local economic and employment effects of a casino
Is the Mayor aware of research in Australia that shows the net effect of an increase in gambling in a locality is an overall loss in local output, income and jobs? This seems especially apparent where there is a high density of gambling in disadvantaged urban areas. It is said in Australia that two jobs are lost in other businesses for every one created in casinos. Is the mayor aware that a large casino may actually harm Newham’s local employment and economy?

3. Social impact of a large casino
Could the mayor tell us the result of discussions he has had about the community impact of a large casino with social and probation services, primary care trusts, hospitals, mental health centres, addiction treatment agencies, debt counsellors and community workers? Is he aware that evidence from the US suggests that for every £1 of revenue generated by increased gambling there can be £3 of associated social costs?

4. New social support measures required from a Newham casino
As gambling increases so does heavy gambling addiction that, like drug use, may lead inevitably to divorce, domestic violence, child abuse and personal bankruptcy. If Newham is successful with its application for a large casino, what measures will the mayor take to alleviate these effects in Newham?

3. Editors Queries:

The Christian Peoples Alliance ran candidates in boroughs and districts across the country at the May 4 Local Govt. Elections. The party fielded candidates in the May 2005 General Elections as well as in the EU and London elections in June 2004 when the party won over 240,000 votes in London and the south of England. The CPA is a Christian Democratic party and has the backing of Christian Democratic parties in Europe, including Holland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Promoted and Published by P Vickers on behalf of Alan Craig, both at 64 Burke Street, Canning Town, E16 1ET.