But the former special needs teacher is convinced that Blackpool, the24th most deprived district in England, needs to win its bid to host oneof the Government's "super-casinos" if the town's children are toprosper.
The bid is a chance for the town to create an all-year-round economy anda shift in aspirations, he says.
"The link between deprivation and outcomes for children is clear. Thecasino itself will not resolve our problems but it's the catalyst forregeneration," he argues. "Blackpool is a resort town. If your economyis based around tourism rather than other industries, opportunities forregeneration are limited."
Lund is not new to the problems children face in coastal towns. Beforemoving to Blackpool seven years ago, he worked as an assistant directorin an education authority in north Wales. But he says moving toBlackpool, where he started as the council's assistant director forpupils' services, was "a culture shock".
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