CITY planners will this week call for tight controls to stop casinos springing up across Worcester when the Government changes gambling laws in 2007.
At present, casinos can be built on any land earmarked for 'assembly and leisure', such as sites occupied by cinemas, bingo halls, gymnasiums, nightclubs and bowling greens. However, national regulations stop them opening except in certain areas - the closest being Birmingham.
To ensure casinos do not flood Worcester when these laws change in two years, the city council has told the Government it wants powers to examine every application in detail.
Planning officer Paul O'Connor said: "I support the designation... which would require any casino to be subject of a planning application, whereby any negative effects would be material in the determination of the application."
Worcester City Council planning committee will discuss the recommendation at a Guildhall meeting tomorrow.
The proposed new gambling laws also ensure that local authorities must consult with the public before any casinos go ahead.
In 2004, city councillors approved an application by Bamboo nightclub, in Tybridge Street, Worcester, to change the use of the building to operate a casino.
However, the club has no plans at present to do so.
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