The Blackpool Lead

13/07/2025

A lodger has failed to convince a judge that a Blackpool hotelier’s will - which left everything to him and cut the dead man’s daughter out of his £900,000 fortune - was real.

PLUS: A new future beckons for the delayed Stanley Buildings scheme

12/07/2025

Tomorrow's newsletter looks at the will of a Blackpool hotelier - which was contested in the courts after the daughter, a mother-of-three appeared to have been left out in favour of a lodger.

The Blackpool Lead will be sent to subscribers first thing tomorrow morning (it's free to sign up).

11/07/2025

The skyline is changing in central Blackpool as one of the town’s landmark buildings is reduced to rubble.

Demolition of the town’s Bonny Street Police Station began this week when a long-reach excavator began to smash up the massive concrete structure.

And today the imposing building, which was first opened in the late 1960s and is seen as a classic example of Brutalist architecture, was levelled further into the ground.

The site, bordered by Bonny Street, Chapel Street, New Bonny Street and Central Drive, has been cordoned off while the work is carried out.

Dust fills the air as two excavators go to work on the site.

The old Magistrates’ Court building and the Chapel Street car park, have already been demolished.

In their place will be the much-heralded £300m Blackpool Central Scheme, which entails the redevelopment of the former Blackpool Central Railway Station site into a world-class visitor attraction and leisure destination.

The project is aimed at boosting the local economy by creating jobs and attracting more visitors. It includes the creation of indoor theme parks, a large public square, hotels and restaurants. A multi-story car park opened earlier this year.

The demolition is expected to be complete by the end of the month, clearing the way for a new era in Blackpool.

Blackpool Council says the multi-million pound projects will transform the town

10/07/2025

A neighbourhood gala in Blackpool is back this weekend and organisers are hoping for a good turn-out.

Claremont Gala is one of North Shore’s longest-running community events, although it was suspended for two years during the Covid pandemic.

The procession will begin around 11am with a street parade from St Paul’s Worship centre on Egerton Road to Claremont Park, including the the gala queen and her entourage – all pupils from Claremont Primary School.

Events on the gala field at Claremont Park include a performance from a local school choir, traditional Morris dancing, live music, free fairground rides, a dog show and food stalls.

This much-loved event is proudly supported by Claremont Ward Councillors, Leader of Blackpool Council, Coun Lynn Williams and Coun Ivan Taylor.

An organiser commented: “All the hard work has been done – now we’re hoping for good weather and a good turn-out.”

10/07/2025

Changes to Blackpool’s bin collections are on their way after getting the green light.

Blackpool Council’s Executive has now ratified the proposals after meeting to consider them last night.

The new system comes after the Government introduced new legislation called Simpler Recycling which calls for all local authorities to simplify the way that waste is collected, reduce costs and increase recycling.

Among the changes are the introduction of a new brown bin for paper, instead of the brown hessian sacks, and a new weekly food waste collection, taking organic waste out of the grey bins completely.

Now that the changes have been agreed on, Simpler Recycling will be implemented in April 2026, with all local authorities collecting the same set of materials for recycling.

The changes include:

🗑️ Three-weekly domestic waste collections
🗑️ Weekly food waste collections
🗑️Brown bags replaced with brown bins
🗑️ Green waste subscription reduced by £15 to £30
🗑️Communal bin hubs in inner wards
🗑️Ten waste amnesties per year in inner wards
🗑️Increased capacity of blue bins

09/07/2025

Experts have been called in by health bosses in Blackpool to review all youngsters treated by the children’s hearing service over the past five years, The Blackpool Lead can reveal.

PLUS: An update on heritage trams and their return to Blackpool

09/07/2025

A former job centre in Blackpool could be transformed into a block of flats if plans get the go ahead.

Proposals for the ‘use of a building as 18 self-contained permanent flats (Prior Approval application)’, in respect of the former centre on Tyldesley Road, have been lodged with Blackpool planners.

The applicant is listed as Blackpool Promotions LTD, known for being the UK’s largest tour operator to Blackpool.

Located on the corner of Tyldesley Road and Princess Street, the 12,000 sq ft property is a three-storey, purpose-built office of traditional brick construction.

It first went on the market in early 2018 when it was offered for sale by agents Robert Pinkus Ltd.

The current Prior Approval application is not a full planning application at this stage but an acoustic assessment relating to noise has been included.

The noise assessment report by Martin Environmental Solutions states: “Concerns have been raised over the potential impact from surrounding sources of noise and as such a request for this assessment and report has been made.”

It concludes “Previous monitoring in a nearby location to the proposed development has identified existing background sound levels, while these represent a busier area to the development site, they offer a ‘worse-case’ assessment.

“The results of the monitoring indicate the prevailing sound levels will result in an adverse impact on the development. As such additional mitigation measures are required.

“These have been identified as standard double-glazing units with trickle window vents to ensure a suitable level of ventilation is achieved. “

It adds: “ A specification has drawn up for internal floor/ceiling structures to ensure that no significant adverse impact is experienced by occupants between floors, while the existing structure separating the building from the adjacent ones has been identified as suitable.

“ As such the development will meet the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework in ensuring that no significant adverse impact is experienced by the future residents. The development is therefore considered to be acceptable in terms of noise. “

09/07/2025

It has been a hulking eyesore since it closed seven years ago but finally Blackpool’s former police station is coming down.

Demolition of the old Bonny Street base began Monday (July 8) when a long-reach excavator began to smash up the massive concrete edifice.

In 2018 police moved more than two miles away to modern, state of the art premises on Gerry Richardson Way, off Clifton Road in Marton – the perfect hub for today’s technological advances in policing.

The two buildings couldn’t be more different.

Bonny Street Police Station has been one of Blackpool’s most iconic public buildings, known for its brutalist design and role in law enforcement for over four decades.

Built in the late 1960s, the station was part of a larger development that included a magistrates’ court.

But the old station won’t be around for too much longer, with the demolition work expected to be completed by the end of this month.

The graffiti-covered Magistrates’ Court building, which had come to resemble something from a dystopian sci fi film, and the similarly grim Chapel Street car park, have already been demolished.

In their place will be the much-heralded £300m Blackpool Central Scheme, which entails the redevelopment of the former Blackpool Central Railway Station site into a world-class visitor attraction and leisure destination.

It aims to boost the local economy by creating jobs and attracting more visitors. The project includes the creation of indoor theme parks, a large public square, hotels and restaurants. A multi-story car park opened earlier this year.

The plans took a hit in October 2024 with the shock collapse of Nikal Ltd, the developer for the ambitious project.

However, Blackpool Council has hopes of attracting new investment for the scheme.

Planning permission remains in place for a new £40m courthouse on the corner of Talbot Road and Devonshire Road, which was expected to be completed by 2026.

However, this project was also hit by delays when contractor ISG went into administration in 2024.

08/07/2025

Serious safety issues have been uncovered at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which could result in young patients being called back to have their treatment reviewed.

The full story (plus an update on heritage trams) to subscribers first thing tomorrow morning. 👇

08/07/2025

Blackpool’s Anchorsholme Park is set to receive a global makeover thanks to a successful grant of £15,000 from the National Lottery.

The project will see the creation of a striking new global signpost linking Blackpool with Vancouver and other Commonwealth coastal cities across the world.

Alongside this, ten new trees will be planted, new seating areas will be installed, and a series of information boards will be placed in the park to tell the story of Blackpool’s global connections.

Anchorsholme ward member Coun Paul Galley, who developed the project and wrote the funding bid, said: “I’m incredibly proud of this project. It will not only boost tree planting in Anchorsholme Park but also promote global aspiration and help promote links between Blackpool and the Commonwealth coastal cities from Vancouver to Cape Town.

“We have a whole set of initiatives planned now to bring the different Commonwealth areas and Blackpool together.

“The project is designed to foster a sense of pride and belonging by linking Blackpool to international coastal communities, while also encouraging outdoor learning and environmental appreciation.”

Coun Anita Cooper, Anchorsholme’s other representative added: “It’s fantastic to see this level of investment and imagination coming to Anchorsholme Park. Projects like this really inspire people and make our community feel connected to something bigger.”

The new installations are set to be installed by September, creating a vibrant and educational destination for families, schools, and visitors to enjoy.

08/07/2025

Campaigners against a stinking landfill site have welcomed confirmation that an end date is finally in sight.

The Jameson Road landfill site in Fleetwood has plagued residents in the town and the surrounding areas with its odorous emissions from early 2024, after being reopened by Transwaste Ltd in late 2023.

Concerns have been raised not only about the vile stench of rotten eggs but the possible health implications.

Some residents have complained of breathing difficulties, blinding headaches and nosebleeds, and believe it is linked to the landfill fumes.

But now Wyre Council, the landlord of the site, has confirmed that the lease will not be extended to Transwaste beyond December 31 2027.

Cllr Michael Vincent, leader of Wyre Council, answered a question from the campaigner Jess Brown about the lease during the Full Council meeting on Thursday (July 3).

With the current lease ending at the end of 2027, he said: “We have no plans to extend the lease until 2033, the interests of residents are always our primary concern.

“Public feeling and the number of complaints will be key considerations.”

Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers, who has campaigned to get the site closed down, welcomed the development.

She said: “This is a huge step forward for everyone who has campaigned to Stop The Stink.

“This community’s amazing determination to protect each other has been incredible. I am so proud to have played a part in this but none of it would have happened without us all working together.

“Thank you so much to every single person who has protested, written letters, filled out odour diaries, sent emails, and much, much, more.

“Together, we are stronger and nowhere is that more apparent than right here. We must keep going, we must keep working to protect our community from these gases, but for now, we should all take a moment to celebrate.”

One of the Fleetwood campaigners, Dr Barbara Kneale, of the Close Jameson Road Landfill campaign, commented: “While we are happy the lease for the land will not be extended , the fight goes on – there is still 2.5 years left for Transwaste to continue poisoning the local area .”

However, Transwaste stated in a recent newsletter: “The landfill site has planning permission until 2033 but at the current rate of tipping, this could be closed by 2028.”

It also stated: “The Jameson Road landfill site has reported a significant reduction in odour emissions in recent weeks following an intensive programme of gas management work, infrastructure upgrades and environmental restoration.”

08/07/2025

We also report in-depth on reforms to Blackpool Council’s breakfast club scheme. Two years ago they called it revolutionary - and said it made sure 30,000 primary school children get a healthy start to their day. But now it's in line for serious reform.

PLUS: Blackpool Council's breakfast clubs to see significant reforms