Predict A Decision

Actually, thinking about councils, I thought I should attempt a prediction. A decision is due any time now about where a large casino is going to be authorised in Milton Keynes. There are three candidates; the Xscape building in the centre, the Leisure Plaza near the railway station and the MK Dons football stadium.

Xscape has a lot of leisure activity and is near what is known as theatre district, which sounds sophisticated (and the theatre is fantastic) but is actually a warren of little alleyways and often sees an infestation of drunken 'malcontent's'. The addition of a casino may overload the area.

The Leisure Plaza is an area that is now quite run down, with a long-closed nightclub standing empty, a bowling alley, an ice rink and unfortunately a lap dancing club. Putting a casino here would mean the regeneration of the whole area, with new facilities, enough out of the way to not be a nuisance, but close to road and rail links to bring in custom. (I must declare an interest here; I have links to ice hockey, so my sport would gain in this scenario. I don't mean financially, there isn't any money in it! I mean giving youngsters somewhere to play and locals a bit of exotic sport to watch, in rejuvenated facilities).

The last option is the football stadium. This is well out of the way, which is fine for a sport like football, with large crowds arriving and departing at roughly the same time, during the day or perhaps early evening. For a casino it seems a bit detached, no cohesive reason to be there. But the man responsible for the stadium is a bit of a local hero, with a high profile and crucially, contacts. Now, to the best of my knowledge, he is a lovely bloke and I wish him no harm, but he may have access that no competitor does.

Most people, if taking a bet (pun intended) would plump for the stadium, for exactly these reasons. But is that right? Should a decision be made where the most good can be done, or where (perhaps) the benefit is to the relationship between councillors and local businessmen?