IN his letter of October 7 on the Gambling Bill, Councillor Steven Bate treated your readers to the combination of rant, inaccuracy and misinformation which has become the hallmark of his contributions on this subject. I have never said that resort casinos could be forced to 'pay a cash levy of their profits to the council'. What I have said -- (and it's not new; I have openly discussed it several times since the casino debate started) -- is that it would be worth exploring such casinos contributing a percentage of their turnover and profits into a regeneration fund that could be used directly for the benefit of community projects in Blackpool.

That is the sort of practical proposal I think residents might want to discuss sensibly as part of the mature debate which should follow when we know the final shape of the legislation now proceeding to its Committee state in Parliament. Tessa Jowell and her colleagues in Government have said they will listen to concerns and make amendments to allay fears of proliferation. I hope people will see that as a refreshing contrast to the ravings of Councillor Bate who had had four years to come up with workable alternatives to resort casinos as a key building block for regeneration Blackpool but has singly failed to do so. It is quite possible to have a continuation of family attractions and that are part of Blackpool's heritage as well as leisure complexes, new hotels and a conference centre funded by destination gaming. That is what most people in Blackpool would I believe be happy with not the negative hysteria that Councillor Bate is peddling.

Gordon Marsden MP

Blackpool South