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The debate on the Guildford casino

Following the passage of the Gambling Act 2005, I was the first to call for Guildford Borough Council to use its new powers to veto any and all casino applications (Surrey Advertiser, 22 April 2005). After a full and proper consultation, Guildford became one of the first councils in the country to adopt such a policy. It has provided certainty for residents, businesses and investors.

This policy is coming up for renewal, and I believe we should seek to re-affirm our ‘no casino’ stance. Again, we must consult, show due process and give everyone a fair hearing. Listening is a legal duty and it will help ensure there is no scope for any spurious and expensive legal challenges (of which, Guildford has seen many).

Our policy was passed with unanimous cross-party support (sock puppet Trinity Party aside). Yet it is disappointing that the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford is now undermining that political consensus. Her latest Focus ‘newspaper’ asserts the Council is “coming under pressure… to change this policy and allow casinos”, “local people are worried” and “residents fear that their views… will be ignored.”  This is utterly misleading.

No-one will be ignored. Such is the “pressure” supposedly building up that not a single recent letter has been received by the Council calling for a change of policy (not even one from Mr Harper). Her desire to stoke unnecessary ‘fear’ and ‘worry’ says more about her style of politics than it does about the Conservative Borough’s stance on casinos.

Cllr Sheridan Westlake

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