Following approval from government for the authority to grant one small casino premises licence an invitation to apply for the licence was advertised in October 2010 with a closing date of 28 February 2011.
Four applications for three sites have been received for the licence, all of which are on sites identified in the Council’s original bidding process. The Council has an interest in each of the sites. The Council had no prior discussion with any applicant over the use of these sites for a casino and any proposal would also be subject to the full planning application process and agreement with land owners. It should be noted that all the sites are owned by the Council. The applications are listed below:
Apollo Resorts and Leisure Limited
A seven storey development (including lower ground floor) at the Walcot Street Cattle Market Car Park, Walcot Street, Bath. This is bordered by Walcot Street to the west, the river Avon the east and the Hilton Hotel to the south.
Gala Casinos Limited
Ground Mezzanine & Lower Ground Floor (With entrance from a new piazza off Walcot Street) of a proposed development on land currently known as Walcot Street Cattle Market Car Park, Walcot Street, Bath.
Global Gaming Ventures Ltd. (Previously Great Eastern Quays Casino Limited)
Former Sawclose Clinic and Gala Bingo Hall, Sawclose, Bath.
Grosvenor Casinos Limited
Existing car park bounded by Manvers Street to the west, walkway adjacent to the Police Station to the south and South Parade to the north, Bath.
All applicants have now been approved at Stage 1, of a two stage process. Copies of the Stage 1 applications and the Licensing Sub-Committee’s decisions can be found via the following link Committee Hearing Minutes. The four successful applicants were subsequently written to and invited to apply for Stage 2. Two applications have been received for Stage 2 of the application process, one from Apollo Resorts and Leisure and one from Global Gaming Ventures Ltd. The competing bids will now be evaluated for the best benefit for the area. This evaluation will be conducted by an independent panel backed-up with technical advisors with specialist knowledge in the field of casinos and gaming. The panel members are:
- Sylvie Pierce – Development & Local Government – member of the Urban regeneration Panel;
- Les Sparks – Urban regeneration & Design & Local Government – member of the Urban regeneration Panel;
- Mary Lynch – Leisure, Tourism & the Visitor Economy – Chair of Bath Tourism Plus;
- Mike McBeth – Social & Community Health – Head of School Bath Spa University;
- Andy McClellan – Social Responsibility & Problem Gambling – Chief Executive of Gamcare.
The report from the panel will be presented to the Licensing Committee for approval in May 2012.