Westfield plan could include a casino (From Your Local Guardian)

Westfield's plan for Croydon could include a casino

7:20am Thursday 21st June 2012 in Business News By Nick Hitchens

A Westfield Shopping Centre in Croydon could see a casino come to the borough.

The company built the largest casino in the UK as part of its Stratford centre and has suggested a similar scheme could be appropriate for Croydon.

Croydon is, by population, the largest town in the country not to have a casino but research indicates one could create close to 100 jobs.

John Burton, director of development at Westfield said: "It was not part of the original plan but we were approached and decided we could make it work. It is definitely something we would look at for Croydon but only after consultation with the public and council."

Existing legislation means Croydon is not a permitted area for a casino but Tracy Damestani, chief executive of National Casino Industry Forum, said there was hope the rules could be changed.

She said :"There has been a push from casino owners to allow local authorities to be given the right to decide to become a permitted area."

Westfield has also offered to provide additional security to the town should its bid to develop Whitgift be successful.

Croydon BID supplies funding for five police officers, match funded by the Metropolitan Police, to patrol central Croydon.

Westfield built a police station within its Stratford centre and would be willing to provide funding to improve security Mr Burton said: "The safety of our customers is absolutely paramount to what we are trying to offer. Every place is different but we are in conversation with Croydon BID and the police about what could work."