Blackpool

[ferge]

yeh think its the slogan for Chorley's tourist board

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by ferge

yeh think its the slogan for Chorley's tourist board

nice one ferge.

PaulP, thank you so much for taking the pictures they are superb.

I agree with you ferge, there is alot of work to do in Blackpool and lets hope the prominard is just the start.

The next big project is the Talbot Gateway which should start in 2010 and there is still no decision what will happen to the central car park area now the super casino isn't coming.

It will probably go to shopping but that's not going to happen in this climate.

The main thing though is things are happening in Blackpool for the better, so I'm very confident about it's long term future.

[Zim Flyer]

The Blackpool Gazette did a live online question and answer session today with Peter Callow, the leader of Blackpool Council.

He said some pretty encouraging things.

Asked about the Talbot Gateway project and if it was at risk from the credit crunch he said the following:

Even though the country is in recession I have every confidence that our agreement with Muse Developments will go ahead and will be signed up in the very near future.
This huge development will change the face of Blackpool. Mark my words.

The plan will involve the construction of a major supermarket at the site and the construction of new council offices their including the Court buildings:

a supermarket will be the corner stone of the gegeneration of the Talbot Road area. All the major supermarkets are keen to come to Blackpool on that site and we aim to relocate many of its staff to the Talbot Gateway to the new offices and we are hopeful that civil servants will be relocated to that area to bring vibrancy and spending power to that neglected area of the town.

Asked about the future plans for the Blackpool Tram system after the track is relaid and we get our 16 new trams, he said:

the future plans for the high speed trams is that they will be hybrid, electric/diesel - a spur will be constructed near the Big Blue at the Pleasure Beach onto the Pleasure Beach station. The line from there is not electrified so diesel will then click in. That seems to be the shortest distance to lay track. However this could be done equally at Starr Gate and tap into the existing rail lines there.

Also we hope to have a spur running from Star Gate to Blackpool International Airport.

Asked about the plans for the prominard, he said:

part of the central promenade including the roadway is to be altered considerably in our plans for the Tower Headland. The Comedy Carpet envisaged will stretch some distance away from the actual Tower Headland.
Pedestrians will have a much larger area to walk on. However we intend to attract huge audiences, possibly 20,000 plus, to shows on the headland.
We've already seen the Kaiser Chiefs on St Chad's headland. It is also planned that hte Illuminations switch ons will be transferred from the central car parkonot the Tower headland.
What a spectacle! I hope you can imagine it!


It was a really good chat, sadly I came in at the end so wasn't able to get any questions in, fortunately others asked the questions I wanted to find out re the Talbot Gateway and Tram projects.

The full question and answer session can be found on:

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/Cu...x?pageID=76187

[delores]

The promenade looks really good, I wonder if there is an initiative to make the buildings on the waterfront look better? It would actually make Blackpool become far more marketable if the council were to pay in some part for the refurbishment of some key buildings or at least start up a scheme of some sort to improve the appearance of the buildings.

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by delores

The promenade looks really good, I wonder if there is an initiative to make the buildings on the waterfront look better? It would actually make Blackpool become far more marketable if the council were to pay in some part for the refurbishment of some key buildings or at least start up a scheme of some sort to improve the appearance of the buildings.

Sadly that was the area where the Casino was meant to go (the bit south of the tower), all the major regeneration plans after the prominard and the new trams are being pushed towards the North Station area (Talbot Gateway) area.

There is also some work being carried out within the town centre as regards lights so as to make it more inviting and the central park entrance (the bit near the football ground on your way in to Blackpool via the road.

They are also moving the college into the centre as well (I think Blackpool will eventually try to go for university status with it), so there are lots of things happening.

The big debate is to what to build in the area where the casino was meant to go?

[delores]

I think moving some key buildings to the waterfront will help Blackpool, but what I'm thinking is tidying up what exists at present , trying to restore old buildings and bring them back to their original intent. Again I'm really not sure why Blackpool doesn't have any trees whatsover? I really think this would help enormously with the whole look of the place, is there a reason for this?

[Chorley Boi]

Blackpool Gazette

Ryanair to quit Blackpool airport

Date: 25 November 2008
By Nick Hyde
RYANAIR has announced plans to quit Blackpool International Airport.

The Irish budget airline made the shock announcement today in
response to the airport's controversial decision to charge all its passengers a £10 entry fee to the terminal from the New Year.

Ryanair bosses said they had advised against the introduction of the Airport Development Fee.

They will pull all daily routes to and from Dublin, plus its Girona (Barcelona) service, the day before the charge is introduced on January 5.

And Ryanair today called for the charge to be scrapped "while there is still time to save the airport".

Michael Crawley, Ryanair's deputy chief executive, said: "This is a black day for Blackpool International Airport.

"The management's decision, against Ryanair's advice to introduce an Airport Development Fee is an extremely regressive step.

"It inevitably involves a massive increase in the cost of travel for passengers through the airport.

"With so much choice for passengers in the locality, this increased cost is unsustainable and Ryanair is regrettably announcing the withdrawal of all its services to both Dublin and Barcelona (Girona) from the airport with effect from January 4, 2009.

The route to successful airlines and successful airports is not through increasing charges for passengers but rather the reverse, reducing fares and reducing costs at airports which in turn drive passenger traffic and boost economic activity.

With this step, the management at Blackpool Airport have severely dented the economic prospects for the region which this airport serves. We call on them to reverse this decision immediately while there is still time to save the airport."

The charge, for passengers aged 16 and over, is expected to raise £400,000 in its first year for the airport which has struggled to maintain passenger numbers.

It will mean passengers can park free for up to 15 days at the airport.
Airport bosses today said they were "confident" of bringing in another airline to replace Ryanair.

David Kershaw, chief executive at Blackpool International, said: "We are extremely disappointed to make this announcement, both the Dublin and Girona routes are extremely popular and busy all year round.

"However, based on the demonstrable success of both these routes and the ease of access and facilities here at the airport, together with our free passenger parking offer being introduced from January 5, we are confident our ongoing dialogue with alternative airlines will secure an operator in the very near future."

Blackpool Council, which still has a five per cent stake in the airport now owned by building giant Balfour Beatty, described the announcement as a "temporary setback".

Council leader Peter Callow said: "The council is confident the airport will make a very early announcement of new flights so air travellers can continue to reach their favourite destinations from Blackpool."

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by delores

I think moving some key buildings to the waterfront will help Blackpool, but what I'm thinking is tidying up what exists at present , trying to restore old buildings and bring them back to their original intent. Again I'm really not sure why Blackpool doesn't have any trees whatsover? I really think this would help enormously with the whole look of the place, is there a reason for this?

I totally agree, I had a look last week and I noticed that whilst parts of Blackpool centre are being improved, the shops on the prominard are in poor shape especially from the area around the front of the tower up to the area oppersite the Metrolpole hotel in the north. There are some lovely little shops around Blackpool and if they were to open there it would really improve the look of the front.

As regards the trees, it's such a good idea, I'm writting to the council leader Peter Callow to find out and ask if we can have some planted. Pardon the pun, but lets sow the seed.

[Zim Flyer]

Just spent another lovely week up in Blackpool and I'm aiming to move there for November 2009.

I thought I would give you all a brief photo update on what is happening in Blackpool.

The first notable project is the completed Houndshill shopping centre, which looks very impressive, it's a standard shopping mall on the inside with the usual suspects in it, so I've not taken any pictures of the interior although it does look very smart.





this is the view of the centre taken from the tower:




On the prominard front, work continues at a pace and it really is looking beautiful:







These were some views I took from the top of the tower on the continued works:

The area between South Pier to Central Pier:



Here is a close up:



The area between Central Pier to North Pier:



The area in front of the Tower is going to be a big outdoor music concert venue and work is two fold, partly prominard, partly concert venue construction.

the plan is to move the tram lines forward into the road and reduce the road to single file:

[delores]

Its all looking very impressive. Still a long way to go in the rebuilding of Blackpool but this is a great start.

[CDX]

A couple of articles/Press Releases I stumbled across about the regen review.

Link to actual report here: Blackpool Task force report 2 - Word Doc

From:www.nwda.co.uk

Review of Blackpool's regeneration plans

The results of the latest report into the progress of the Blackpool Resort Masterplan have been announced by Liz Meek, Regional Director of the Government Office for the North West.

The report, which was commissioned by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, measures progress of the Masterplan against the recommendations made by the Blackpool Task Force. Formed in March 2007, the Task Force was set up following a request from government to assess the long-term regeneration plans in the town following its failed casino bid.

In addition, following the recent appointment of Sir Howard Bernstein as chairman, a strategic review is currently underway into the regeneration Masterplan that is delivered by Urban Regeneration Company (URC), ReBlackpool.

ReBlackpool’s aim is to ensure the Masterplan proposals will make Blackpool a better place to live, work and play through physical, social and economic regeneration.

Details of the strategic review are included in the report by Liz Meek.


Liz Meek said:

“Sir Howard has instigated a strategic review of the Blackpool Resort Masterplan which will look into all activity currently under way. This will set a clear direction for spatial and investment prioritisation for the URC and align a role and function of the housing intervention programme in contributing to comprehensive regeneration in Blackpool.”

The Masterplan aims to transform the town through an innovative programme of regeneration, designed to rebuild the seafront, provide new tram infrastructure and release key town centre and seafront sites for development.

Since the first report in July progress has been made on:

Tourism:
• Discussions have taken place between the trustees of the Victoria and Albert re the creation of a theatre museum in Blackpool.
• £4 million funding was secured from Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Sea Change programme. Delivered through CABE, the funding will go towards a £14m scheme for the creation of the Tower Festival Headland in the town.

Housing:
• Blackpool has successfully bid with Preston for Housing Growth Point status and the proposals are now being developed.

• Projects in both North and South Beach are currently being looked at by English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation for the New Homes and Community Agency.

Education:

• Blackpool and Fylde College is looking at a further expansion of the Higher Education provision beyond that currently being delivered.

Worklessness:

• A Multi-Area Agreement – contract between central and local government - will focus on reducing the number of benefit claimants in Blackpool.

Transport and Infrastructure:

• Discussions continue with Balfour Beatty – the new owners of Blackpool Airport – about potential investment to provide quality well paid jobs at the airport.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said:

“The NWDA is committed to the economic and social regeneration of Blackpool and as a key partner of ReBlackpool will continue to invest in projects which will deliver significant change. A better Blackpool requires investment, but also support from all partners to bring about tangible benefits for residents and to secure Blackpool’s future as a tourist destination. I am pleased this report shows that progress is being made through partners working together.”

Cllr Peter Callow, Leader Blackpool Council said:

“The first phase of Hounds Hill Shopping Centre has opened very successfully, exceeding expectations and creating a real buzz in the town centre. With more interventions we are confident we can establish Blackpool as a real heart of the Fylde Coast and a vibrant town centre accessed by the whole of Lancashire in addition to our existing tourism economy.”

Doug Garrett, Chief Executive at ReBlackpool commented:

“The strategic review is crucial as we move from planning into the delivery and implementation stage. As with any long-term plan, it is essential to review activity and our goals to make sure what we planned to deliver is still feasible and relevant. Sir Howard has a proven record in delivering major regeneration projects and his skills and experience will now be used to lead and push forward development in Blackpool.”

Note to Editors

1. Blackpool Task Force was formed in March 2007 following a request from Government to look into long-term regeneration plans. This is the second in a series of progress reports on the regeneration of Blackpool following its failed casino bid.

2. The report, by Liz Meek, Regional Director of the Government Office for the North West, was commissioned by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to measure progress against the recommendations of the Blackpool Task Force published last year.

3. The Task Force is chaired by Bryan Gray, Chair of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and includes representatives from the Government Office for the North West, Blackpool Council, ReBlackpool and national regeneration agency English Partnerships.

4. Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein was appointed chair of ReBlackpool in July 2008.

5. ReBlackpool, Blackpool’s Urban Regeneration Company, is the body charged with delivering the Masterplan proposals that will transform the UK’s premier coastal resort over the next ten years. ReBlackpool works closely with the NWDA and Blackpool Council.

6. Key initiatives include :
• Government Office for the North West working with partners including the NWDA to broaden Blackpool’s appeal to a wider range of visitors.
• Government investment of £35 million through English Partnerships to be delivered by ReBlackpool. Consideration is being given to regenerating the seafront through a variety of developments including hotel, residential, commercial and retail.
• ReBlackpool’s blueprint for the creation of a new business district is forging ahead through the £220 million Talbot Business District Development.
• Blackpool and Fylde College is planning £90 million relocation to the town centre.
• The NWDA, through ReBlackpool, and the Higher Education Funding Council are funding a £10 million development of higher education with Blackpool and Fylde College

For further information: Clive Naish, Regional Information Officer
Tel: 0161 952 4517

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE
NORTH WEST BY COI NEWS AND PR

From:www.architectsjournal.co.uk

'Blackpool is too one dimensional'
Published: 21 November 2008 15:30

Howard Bernstein, chair of Blackpool's regeneration company, talks to Richard Waite about casinos, seaside masterplans and regenerating in a downturn

'If I produce a plan and everybody thinks it's crap, then they are entitled to that'

'It's pointless to pretend that Blackpool doesn't need a radical overhaul,' says Howard Bernstein, part-time chair of the ailing seaside resort's urban regeneration company, ReBlackpool.

Bernstein, sporting a pair of impressively large gold rings, a velvet-collared jacket and a well-coiffed comb-over, looks more like a 1950s jeweller than the chief executive of Manchester City Council, a post he's held for nearly a decade.

It is surprising that this man, with his gruff cackle of a laugh, is the driving force behind the transformation of Manchester.

What's also extraordinary is that Bernstein (Mancunian of the Year 2003) is leading Blackpool's regeneration less than two years after his name became mud along the town's Golden Mile.

In January 2007, while blowing his Manchester trumpet, Bernstein convinced the government that the eastern fringe of 'his' city was the perfect spot for a supercasino – snatching a similar dream from Blackpool, which had plans for a huge Gensler-designed Vegas-on-Sea. Eventually, Prime Minister Gordon Brown changed his mind, and neither place got one.

Bernstein is adamant that a gambling mecca would not have been right for the Lancashire town. He says: 'I've always believed that Blackpool's case for a casino was not a strong one, because a casino in itself doesn't deliver the change that's needed.'

Nevertheless, Bernstein clearly thinks something can be done to turn around the fading resort, with its flagging tourist trade and 'high levels of worklessness'. He 'reluctantly' gave up a post with the Olympic Delivery Authority to head to Blackpool after being approached by central government. Reports that he was glad to leave the London 2012 team are nonsense, he says.

Bernstein's first move since joining ReBlackpool this summer was to appoint Arup, KPMG and GVA Grimley to carry out 'a strategic review' of the existing Blackpool Resort masterplan.

Just as he did in Manchester, Bernstein is hatching a big plan, and hopes to have a significant input in the final 'strategic focus' that emerges.

'Let's be clear – there are no straightforward solutions here, otherwise they would have been thought of,' he says.

'The key issue for Blackpool is that it is too one-dimensional. It has focused on the creation of a visitor base which has been consistently eroded.

'Successful places must have a strong visitor product, but equally they have to be attractive places for people work and live and broaden the economic product.'

It's all about the product and the positioning. 'But that won't happen tomorrow,' says Bernstein, and thoughts of architectural competitions and landmark projects are much further down the line.

So, with the current financial meltdown, has he arrived in Blackpool at exactly the wrong moment? Bernstein doesn't think so: 'People may think this is controversial but it might be a good time for Blackpool. Intelligent places should be using these times to reflect on whether their strategic direction as a place, and its priorities, remain valid.

'The [masterplan] review is a reality check. Of course there is a question of affordability – but that should set the pace of the strategy, not determine what the strategy is.'

He continues: 'Blackpool has to reclaim its place as a significant player in the Lancashire sub-region. My challenge is to bring forward a radical but sustainable plan for modernising Blackpool and its economy.'

He doesn't give many details, but an area he does pinpoint is the 'obvious case for intervention' with Blackpool's boarding houses – a surplus of stock that does not meet its current or future needs.

However, Bernstein will not have the same power in Blackpool as he does in Manchester.

Officially he is only there two or three days a month, although he 'has enjoyed the challenge' so much he has spent time at weekends looking around.And there is no guarantee that what he proposes will be delivered or even used as a future blueprint for regeneration.

'I can only do what I'm asked to do,' he says. 'It will then be up to others [namely Blackpool Council] to decide whether they want to go with it or not.

'If I produce a plan and everybody thinks it's crap, then they are entitled to that.

'Personally, I would hope they'd see it as something that would offer them a reasonable prospect of moving forward.'

The review is expected before the end of the year, but Bernstein lets slip that Manchester's other greatest son, Ian Simpson, has already landed a hotel scheme in the town.

'That says something about its aspiration,' says Bernstein, 'But I've learnt there are no quick fixes'.

[ferge]

The new shops look impressive on those pics, like the cladding.. its something a little more refreshing for the town.

[Potato Man]

Interesting photo's. Thanks Zim.

Article in today's Times. Apparently the Victoria & Albert Museum are looking at opening a Blackpool branch

http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle5375714.ece

Sun, sand and ceramics: V&A plans museum in Blackpool
Richard Brooks, Arts Editor

Two of Britain’s great Victorian institutions – the Victoria and Albert museum and the seaside resort of Blackpool – plan to link up to build a new museum in the Lancashire town.

It will be the first such venture outside London for the V&A and will concentrate on exhibitions in areas such as fashion, photography and jewellery.

For Blackpool, the project will help to modernise its image and widen its traditional working-class appeal. It may also soothe some of the annoyance caused locally when plans for a supercasino, which the town hoped would revive tourism, were rejected by the government.

“Blackpool might have had a reputation as a ‘kiss-me-quick’ resort, but that has gone. We want to change what we can offer to visitors,” said Tony Williams, a local councillor who chairs Blackpool’s culture committee.

“Ideally we’re looking for a brand new iconic building with plenty of glass to ensure natural light, which is so good for exhibitions.”

Talks between the V&A and Blackpool council, reported in the January edition of The Art Newspaper, have been taking place for several months. Key decisions are expected in the new year.

Although the museum will not have the economic impact of the supercasino, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, part of whose remit is tourism, is now closely involved in the planned museum and is “enthusiastic”, the paper reports.

The V&A, in South Kensington, London, has one of the world’s greatest collections of decorative arts, including ceramics, furniture, fashion and jewellery, as well as extensive collections of sculpture and paintings.

The Blackpool move is part of a strategy for the V&A to expand outside London – it is also in early discussions about opening an offshoot in Dundee. Other national art institutions that have followed this path include the Tate, which has offshoots in Liverpool and Cornwall.

Blackpool hopes the museum will help turn around its fortunes. From the 1860s onwards, it became Britain’s most popular seaside resort but its heyday is long gone. Visitor numbers fell from 17m in 1992 to 10m last year.

In July it suffered another blow when the British Museum claimed its visitor figures for 2007 of 6.04m had overtaken those of Blackpool pleasure beach to make it Britain’s top tourism venue.

The two main political parties have also dumped the resort as a venue for conferences.

Blackpool had been a frontrunner in early 2007 to play host to a supercasino. It lost out to Manchester, although ministers then scrapped the whole supercasino project.

Funding for the new museum’s building, expected to be at least £6m, would come directly from the council, although the institution would be a V&A “branded” museum.

The V&A, whose recent exhibitions range from Russian tsarist costumes to the clothes of Kylie Minogue and cold war-era design, sees its main role in Blackpool as choosing and curating the exhibitions. It will also take the lead in selecting the architect for the new building.

Blackpool and the museum have already cooperated. An exhibition about the clothes worn by the Motown group the Supremes, which was on show at the V&A in London earlier this year, opened at the Grundy, a Blackpool art gallery, three weeks ago.

At the opening, Mary Wilson, a former member of the Supremes, who lent many of her clothes to the exhibition, recalled singing with the group in Blackpool in the 1960s.

[ferge]

Sounds superb, and would do wonders.. I think also what (in a perfect world) Blackpool should do is completely redo its zoo and sea world into bigger attractions and really go for that, not necessarily Vegas appeal but the pulls out all the stops kind of approach.

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by Potato Man

Interesting photo's. Thanks Zim.

cheers Potato Man

Originally Posted by ferge

Sounds superb, and would do wonders.. I think also what (in a perfect world) Blackpool should do is completely redo its zoo and sea world into bigger attractions and really go for that, not necessarily Vegas appeal but the pulls out all the stops kind of approach.

I agree, the Zoo is getting alot of investment and have a new Giraffe enclosure and a new male lion to start their breading programme with the three female lions which is good.

As regards SeaLife there is a minor development in today's Blackpool Gazette about that. They are turning the bottom part of the building which was an indoor market into a 12 hole indoor golf course:

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/bl...off.4895360.jp

The prices aren't bad at 15 pounds for a famly of four and it's due for completion in April.


Another project that has started is the development of the Blackpool and the Fylde FE Campus (which the long term plan is to turn it in to a university), they are demolishing the Old Illuminations Department and the old Mecca Building in between the Blackpool Football ground and the cinema:



The illuminations department has a new state of the art building so they are happy.

The total cost of the project is 110 million.

According to the ReBlackpool site the

"The development will encompass 44,240 square metres of floor space for the expanding number of students within the local area. A plaza on three sides along with trees and lawns will surround the pioneering campus to create a welcoming environment. This exciting new building will feature two seperate entrances in a bid to offer better access by foot, train and bus."

Demolition of the old buildings started last week and construction starts in 2010 and is due to be finished in 2013:









Work is also underway to extend the site at University Campus on Palantine road (work is expected to be finished by August 2009):

[Zim Flyer]

Absolutely terrible news, last night one of Blackpool's iconic buildings burnt down, some piece of shit has been arrested for arson (that is Blackpool's biggest weakness, a minority of it's people are drug infested benefits cheats who want to do their best to drag everyone down to their level, I would burn the bastards):

It's the Yates building oppersite the North Pier:



It could't come at a worse time as the whole area has just been redeveloped including the building itself and I'm so angry.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...891046.stm?lss

[ferge]

Thats shocking I really do not begin to register why we have a culture of destruction, if only people put half the effort they put into social unrest we'd have so many towns and cities to be proud of, with investors willing to commit!

[U475 Foxtrot]

That's a real shame. That's only just been refurbished hasn't it? I'm sure I saw it was while I was working on the new Houndshill shopping centre before christmas.

Gutting that that some low life can do such a thing.

[Chorley Boi]

zim u really love bpool! y?

Has any further info regarding the new trams been established

[horokeio]

I've some happy memories of the North Pier area and of Yates's. Bloody shame some scumbag has tried to burn it down. Haven't been down for about three or four years like but the developments look great -- the new sea wall looks excellent in particular. Hoping to get down by the end of the year.