A LOCAL newspaper's leader cautions, "There is a serious danger that the casino debate is becoming polarised" and then elsewhere on the same pages launches a poll which asks only two questions.

Would resort casinos be good for the town? Would resort casinos be bad for the town? How's that for guaranteeing a polarised result?

There are five groups of residents and businesses.

First, those who already believe that gambling and resort casinos are the only answer to Blackpool's problems.

Secondly, those who are implacably opposed to gambling in any form whether resort casinos or church raffles.

Between these diametrically opposed views lie the silent majority.

The include people who don't know enough about resort casinos and have no opinions yet either way. They want and need the facts, not hype.

Next are the folk who think there must be better alternatives. They are not against gambling or even resort casinos but prefer Blackpool to remain family orientated.

They want the regeneration funds and all available land plus sustained efforts by the town's "movers and shakers" to be directed towards all-year-round family entertainment and conference-related projects.

Finally, you have the "don't knows" and the "couldn't care lesses". Sadly, the local apathy party may have the biggest membership. Who knows what would be enough to stir them from their slumbers before it is too late?

To involve all these diverse sections of our community there has to be a genuine informed debate. That can only come about if Blackpool Council, Blackpool Challenge Partnership and the local media provide a level playing field.

The Council and the Partnership must make available to the Blackpool Coalition against Gambling Expansion, which is co-ordinating the "contras", the same very substantial level of funding which has been donated to the "pro" camp over the past two years.

We are talking about tens of thousands of pounds of public money which has been spent on hype and public relations exercises.

The media, for its part, must afford equal coverage to all parties in the debate.

That means equal column inches or airtime and fair and unbiased reporting by journalists. Let battle commence.

Blackpool 1st Alliance, Albert Road, Blackpool.