Categories: musings
Date: 30 January 2007 19:41:50
My home town is to become the home to the UKs first 'super casino'. Manchester doesn't usually win these things. Not when London is in the picture. Hence the big fuss that was made over the commonwealth games... I don't know if I'm just missing the point but I find it difficult to see this as the fantastic news it is reported as.
News articles are claiming this as a great step for Manchester, particularly for the area in which this new 'entertainment complex' is to be built, which is described as one of the most deprived areas in the country. It will bring jobs into this area, and into the city as a whole, it will be a huge boost to the leisure and tourist industry of Manchester, which in turn will stimulate further regeneration and an overall improvement of this part of the city. I have no doubt that this is true, at least to an extent. The influx of big businesses will always start off a chain reaction with others following.
However, I'm still more than a little skeptical. Yes it will bring jobs, but what about the business that is making this money- which profits at the expense of those who spend their time (and more importantly, their money) in such places. It will encourage further investment and development, but do we want to encourage the sort of development that may follow?! And what kind of 'entertainment' will this bring to the city, what message does this send to the people of Manchester, most importantly perhaps to young people? No longer sufficient to have multi-screen cinemas, bowling alleys and fast food restaurants. Now we must place alongside them a huge gambling centre with more than 1,250 'gaming machines', bringing LA to the UK. I dread to think of the message that this sends out, or the effect this could have on the extra-curricular activities of young people in this most deprived area. And this is what we're told the area is lacking?! Now why couldn't I see that before...
I am usually proud of my roots, of the city that I grew up in and its heritage. Manchester is a lively, interesting and diverse city, with much to offer, and nothing will ever change that. But I don't think I will ever be able to stand up and be proud of this. As Rowan Williams said, its sad that the best way we can see of improving deprived areas is to develop these institutions which may well increase this deprivation in the long term.