BLACKPOOL councillors are refusing to gamble on what people think about turning Blackpool into the casino capital.

At the latest full council meeting, they voted almost unanimously against a move calling for a referendum on the building of casino hotels in the town.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jon Bamborough who suggested giving the public a vote, said that all he wanted was to discuss the issue before it was too late.

He said: "There are a number of pressure groups that are campaigning to have a discussion about the casinos so I will be working with them.

"The council's view is that it's nothing to do with us yet so we don't discuss it. I'm sure they will come to a point where they will have to discuss it but by then it will be too late."

His view was echoed by Steven Bate, chairman of Blackpool, Cleveleys and Fleetwood Lib Dems, who chaired a public meeting in Blackpool earlier this year highlighting residents' concerns about casinos.

He said: "There was overwhelming opinion at that meeting that nobody had enough information. It's information that's required -- then a discussion."

Conservative councillor Donald Clapham said Conservatives had voted with Labour because they felt it was too soon for the public to have their say.

"Until we get any firm proposals that are going to planning, who knows what we are going out to the public about? They are all ideas at the moment."

He stressed that the public would be able to have their say if plans were formally submitted to the council's planning department. "Any proposal that goes to planning is open for anybody to object to, or criticise, or support if they wish."

Labour councillor Roy Lewis said members of the public were welcome to give their views, but not just yet.

He said: "I nearly fell off my perch when the Tories voted with us. Yes, we want to do something -- but when we know what the question is."