MORE than half the people who turned up for a public meeting to fight plans for massive resort casinos in Blackpool have signed up to join a new group of campaigners.

The Blackpool Progress Movement was officially set up on Monday night at a packed meeting and will include resort residents and small businesses among its supporters.

Spokesperson Maureen Horn, a Grange Park grandmother, said the BPM -- which now has 42 members -- had a three-pronged battleplan.

First, many town centre traders and hoteliers will examine alternative regeneration opportunites. Leisure Parcs -- the company behind the resort casinos plan -- has said substantial cash from the gambling centres will go towards a Blackpool renaissance.

"We will also establish a large grassroots network of supporters to speak to local organisations, explaining their concerns" said Mrs Horn.

"Our first concern, though, is the apparent lack of interest from our local Members of Parliament. We would like to hear in some detail what their opinions are about the casino proposals. Are they well informed about the social costs of problem gamblers?"

Meanwhile, Steven Bate, Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, has also slammed local MPs for not speaking up.

This was the most important decision in the history of Blackpool. "Why are they silent on the casino proposals?" he asked.

Resort Methodists have expressed their strong reservations about the casino hotels plan. The Blackpool Methodist Town Centre Churches Committee -- which represents New Central, Adelaide Street, Raikes Parade and North Shore churches -- condemned what gambling did to society and individuals.

"We see the proposal as representing another step, nay a quantum leap, down the road to the 'me first, something for nothing ' society," they said.

It was claimed that resort casino hotels would mean that thousands of gamblers would spend their winnings thoughout Blackpool and boost the town's retail trade.

"This is far too optimistic. The casino owners will do everything they can to keep the punters and their families within the confines of their building by providing shopping malls, entertainment and child care facilities.

"Money will circulate -- but only within the casino complex. Local small guest houses and retail businesses will close," the churches claim. "For these reasons we feel we cannot support the proposal."

Blackpool Council chief executive Graham Essex-Crosby (who is also chairman of the Blackpool Challenge Partnership which represents resort public and private sector interests in the town) said he agreed with the Methodists' sentiments.

"One of the reasons for the partnership's Let's Talk campaign on the casinos was to identify possible problems early. Let's meet them head on," he said.