Blackpool

[thriller killer]

thanks for all the Blackpool updates b4mmy. I am from that part of the world, well down the road in Lytham. I haven't been to blackpool in about 6 years, after telling myself the last time i went that i valued my life more (it was so ruff and violent!) but it is good to see some proper redevelopment going on, maybe i will pop by next time i am meeting the folks...

Why the interest for you b4mmy you from round those parts as well??

[Zim Flyer]

Just spent a week in Blackpool.

I loved it, it really is a place that is on the up. The new prominard will look great when it is completed.

We managed to find a self catering place for £150 per week with a sea view and it was awesome:



Got a cheap tram pass for the week, so went up and down the line and visitied all the surrounding areas.

The only negative is that Blackpool is suffering from the madness of the 1960's in the Talbot gateway area is dreadful, with a horrible concrete bus station oppersite a concrete shopping centre where once a Victorian train station stood. That said there are plans to rebuild this area under the Talbot Gateway Project.

I loved it that much, I'm going again for another week in September and am seriously considering moving there.

[b4mmy]

So, anything exciting happening in Blackpool this week folks?

[Zim Flyer]

I will be going again for a week in September and will be happy to take any pictures if anyone has any requests.

Me and my girlfriend have now decided to look for somewhere to buy there next year.

[Brummyboy92]

Is there any highrise building proposed for blackpool. I would love to see some.

[Brummyboy92]

I found a pic of the super casino that was proposed for Blackpool, dunno if has ever been posted somewhere before.


Pinnacle Height-152.00
Pinnacle Type Spire
Roof Height-125.00
Total Floors-32
Use 1- Hotel Secondary
Use 2-Retail

Is there any chance of this still happening.

[Accura4Matalan]

Only a small chance I'm afraid.

[Brummyboy92]

NOOOOOO, This was fantastic aswell. The UK could have had a gambling city.

[LDN_EUROPE]

I still think Blackpool should be to Europe what Vegas is to North America and Macau is for Asia.

[heatonparkincakes]

Its secretly and not so secretly very poor. Much of its economy is seasonal, low paid, short contract work. Much of the "attractionS" are owned by a few families. It might be blessed with a geographically drier venue than the surrounding area, but it is not the Med mid summer.

Its been in major decline for a generation. After all, what was once Blackpool is now Salou. Except the latter can provide good weather, vaguely different smells and sights and bored, disinterested cheap labour from Andalusia.

And to find a comparison with Brighton is not fair. Brighton has a dynamic lacking there (especially a pink coloured one) and is a big city commuter town, that Blackpool isnt.

A not so super casino (but much bigger than elsewhere in this country) has been mooted for the city , as well in Manchester.

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by heatonparkincakes

And to find a comparison with Brighton is not fair. Brighton has a dynamic lacking there (especially a pink coloured one) and is a big city commuter town, that Blackpool isnt.

Don't forget the decayed half pier in the sea, very nice. Blackpool has three piers, an amazing tower, a 12 mile tram line and a fantastic Pleasure Beach. I think Blackpool has alot more to offer then Brighton and it's stony beach.

I'm going to Blackpool for a week, next saturday and with my new camera will be taking lots and lots of pictures to show how great Blackpool is.

As for Blackpool's economy being seasonal and offering low paid jobs, that applies to most sea side towns, including those in Cornwall, go past the second homes and galleries in Cornwall and you have one of the poorest counties in the Kingdom.

[RSWB]

You can't compare the two, they are totally different places, the only thing we have in common with Blackpool is that we are by the sea.

Blackpool doesn't begin to compare with what's on offer in Brighton in terms of nightlife, history, culture, shopping, major events etc and also the place doesn't die during winter months, but if you're into traditional seaside fun then I guess Blackpool wins hands down, the only real tacky area here is the pier.

[ferge]

Blackpool can have all the piers and novelty lightbulbs it wants, its still a disgrace. There has to be a way of keeping the tradition without keeping the grime, Blackpool needs a facelift and needs to shed its status as a poor, seaside town. It should retain elements of what it is but offer more.. whether or not it ever gets a super casino or not, surely there are things it can offer - even if its improvement to whats already available.

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by ferge

Blackpool can have all the piers and novelty lightbulbs it wants, its still a disgrace. There has to be a way of keeping the tradition without keeping the grime, Blackpool needs a facelift and needs to shed its status as a poor, seaside town. It should retain elements of what it is but offer more.. whether or not it ever gets a super casino or not, surely there are things it can offer - even if its improvement to whats already available.

In a way that is what it's trying to do, with it's work on the new prominard and it's plans for the Talbot Gateway (the area around North Station and the Bus Station).

It would have more if it's other big regeneration projects had been approved by the government such as the Casino and the Tramline extensions but Blackpool isn't the only city to have been betrayed by New Labour on Transport.

That said, I think it's easy for people to say it's full of grime, when for the last fourty years the city has suffered from a total lack of investment, unlike some other towns and cities in the UK. For the most part I saw a town that has some great structures and is turning itself around.

Ferge, have you been inside the ballroom in the Tower, it's one of the most magnificent settings in the country, it's very much a hidden gem.

My main criticism with Blackpool is the standard of some of it's accomodation and this is one area that will change in the years to come.

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by Brighton boy

You can't compare the two, they are totally different places, the only thing we have in common with Blackpool is that we are by the sea.

Blackpool doesn't begin to compare with what's on offer in Brighton in terms of nightlife, history, culture, shopping, major events etc and also the place doesn't die during winter months, but if you're into traditional seaside fun then I guess Blackpool wins hands down, the only real tacky area here is the pier.

True, Brighton is unique with buildings like the Royal Pavilion and I love some of it's Georgian buildings I really do. That said Blackpool offers alot in terms of the Winter Gardens, Tower and North Pier for it's traditional culture, as well as the area between Bispham and the North Pier. What I'm trying to say there is something for everyone in Blackpool when you contrast it to the central and south piers and the Pleasure Beach.

I admit I'm biased about Blackpool as I love it to pieces and I'm looking for property there as we speak so for me Blackpool wins hands down.

[ferge]

Definately Zim, whilst I havn't been in the ballroom I've seen it on many tv shows, and I'm not saying there isn't anything worth saving in Blackpool.. its just the frustation of the lack of investment. I know they've spent millions on the promenade and adding sculptures and installations.

At least Blackpool has the Pleasure Beach, and is not likely to follow fellow North West towns such as Southport and Morecambe in demolishing it (which really pisses me off when after they remove their parks, they say they get less tourists and are bemused into the reasons why!)

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by ferge

At least Blackpool has the Pleasure Beach, and is not likely to follow fellow North West towns such as Southport and Morecambe in demolishing it (which really pisses me off when after they remove their parks, they say they get less tourists and are bemused into the reasons why!)

It was actually the Pleasure Beach company who closed and demolished Frontierland in Morecambe and Pleasureland in Southport. The local authorities didn't have a lot to do with it. In fact Sefton Council gave the Pleasure Beach a 125-year lease for the Pleasureland site just three years before the Pleasure Beach compnay closed it, so Sefton Council clearly had no issues with having an amusement park in it's town. It is sad when these parks get demolished. Thankfully Pleasureland has been given a new lease of life, but most of the old Frontierland site remains derelict 8 years after the park was demolished.

As for Blackpool, as much as I wanted them to get the Supercasino, I didn't think it was a good fit. I perhaps viewed it as more as a means to an unknown end - something that might kickstart it's revival. Truth be told, I don't know what I might suggest to turn Blackpool around. People say that it's turned itself over to stag and hen parties - but they bring in the money that the families now going to Spain no longer do. Unless someone comes up with a radical plan (what I don't know), I can see Blackpool contiuing to downsize, and perhaps in 20-30 years becoming like Morecambe is now - a town on the coast, and no longer a resort.

[Brightonboi]

Is anything in the pictures on the frst post u/c or is it not approved yet ?

[Brummyboy92]

So on the first pics on this post are they the only projects for Blackpool, because if so that is not good at all.

[El_Greco]

Architecture and design leit-werk Ltd wins Blackpool competition

London-based, architectural practice leit-werk has won a £3.5million competition to re-design a key public space in the heart of Blackpool. The redevelopment of the St John’s Precinct area forms part of the greater regeneration plan being delivered by ReBlackpool – the town’s urban regeneration company. The award-winning team’s design, St John’s New Horizon, was chosen from four short-listed entries by a council and community led panel. Local residents and visitors were able to participate in the decision making process through the Blackpool Gazette newspaper’s online vote and via a dedicated public involvement event. St John’s New Horizon is intended both as a new landmark and as a lifestyle hub. A catalyst for the town’s ongoing regeneration, the scheme will attract locals and holidaymakers, encouraging tourism, cultural activity and business investment. Situated less than a mile from the seafront and adjacent to St John’s Church and the Abingdon St Markets, the precinct has been designed to include an events space that integrates the Christmas lights ceremony and an outdoor space for performance. The space will enhance festivals being held in the winter gardens by expanding and developing them into the public realm. A key element of leit-werk’s design is the New Horizon sculpture: a 12 metre hollow-spiral of mirrored steel, with a two-directional stage at its base. Through intensive investigation the team has fine-tuned a sculptural solution, which provides changing reflections of the sky, the horizon and the sea. In this way the new work creates an urban vista linking the beach and the town.