Lib Dems opposed: 'will be a white elephant for the community'.
Will Hammersmith and Fulham become a Las Vegas? There were already plans to turn part of the Earl’s Court and Olympia exhibition center into a giant gambling emporium. An American casino operator is just waiting the government gambling deregulation next year. Now rumours are circulating that Chelsfield, the developers behind the White City shopping development, are hoping to include a casino in the development.
(To complete the picture, even the mafia seems to be operating around in alleged international money laundry scheme worth a billion dollars).
Liberal Democrats oppose the casino in White City and claim it is another sign that the development will bring more problems than benefits to the area.
Hammersmith & Fulham Liberal Democrat spokesman Jon Burden said: "Reports that a casino may be part of the White City Shopping Development confirm what the Liberal Democrats have been saying for sometime: The
White City Development will be a white elephant for the community. Over the years there have been reports of "anchor" stores pulling out of the development, funding problems, and changes in ownership structure of the
developers.
Both Labour and the Conservatives supported this massive shopping centre
as a means to bring "progress" and "opportunity" to a deprived area. All
we are getting is uncertainty, the promise of increase levels of traffic
and now the promise of social problems associated with gambling. What's
really needed are homes and training for jobs that are a short tube ride away."
August 29, 2004