The Blackpool Lead

09/08/2025

Tomorrow's newsletter is focused on two stories:

A Home Office visit to the Metropole which has sparked concerns over coercion.

All the response to the news that Blackpool Council's adult social care services have been rated inadequate.

Both have lots of information you won't be able to read anywhere else.

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08/08/2025

Two bereavement nurses in Blackpool have spoken of their pride at being selected to join the Baton of Hope su***de awareness tour in the resort next month.

The Baton of Hope is a charity which enables a symbolic baton to be carried through the streets of the UK as a unifying symbol of remembrance, hope and the need for urgent action over the tragic scale of su***des across the country.

As part of its UK tour, the baton will be passing through Blackpool on September 1, and the resort’s involvement is sadly apt, as it has the highest rate of deaths linked to su***de in England.

Bereavement nurses Claire Hickson and Vicki Lang work for the SWAN End of Life Bereavement Service, based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Some of the cases they have worked on have been linked to su***de, which put them in contact with the Solace Empowerment Charity, which is run by Blackpool woman Sam Southern.

And Sam, whose charity specifically helps those who have been bereaved through su***de, is the local project lead for Baton of Hope in Blackpool and was involved in the 2025 launch event in the resort in June.

Claire said: “The Baton of Hope is really important, I think, because of the number of su***de cases in this country.

“So to be involved in the tour in Blackpool is something that means a lot to Vicki and me, we’re both proud to be taking part and highlighting this cause.

“Anything that reduces the stigma of su***de, raises awareness, gets people talking about their feelings and also highlights what support is available for people, can only be a good thing.”

Nicki said: “Obviously the Baton tour mainly involved bereaved relatives so having professionals like ourselves involved feels very important and we’re honoured to have been selected.

“This is particularly important to Blackpool.”

Cllr Julie Sloman, who also works as part of the Bereavement Team at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, said: “In Blackpool sadly we do have higher su***de mortality rates, and one person taking their own life is one person too many.

“It is important that we talk openly about su***de and su***de prevention, and it is crucial that when someone takes their own life, all our agencies are able to work together to support our bereaved families and help them find a way forward through the complex grief and trauma that ensues somebody taking their own life.

“I’m really proud of our Nurses Claire Hickson and Vicky Lang who are taking part as Baton Bearers.”

The Baton of Hope route will proceed from the Village Hotel at 8am on Monday , September 1 through Blackpool, including Blackpool Zoo, Stanley Park, Forest gate fire station, Blackpool Football Club, South pier, Granny’s bay, AKS, Fleetwood FC North Pier, The Tower, culminating at the Grand Theatre at 5pm.

Help is available for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts.

As well as contacting their GP, urgent support is available through the Samaritans on phone line 116 123.

People who are recently bereaved can contact the SWAN team on (01253) 952456.

06/08/2025

A popular Blackpool diner has gone all out to celebrate the return of the annual Rebellion punk festival – even so far as to change its name for the week.

The West Coast Rock Café will be playing host to 21 Californian bands as part of the fringe festival this week, from Wednesday to Sunday, and is happy to welcome fans and musicians alike.

To mark festival week, owner Robert Wynne has put up a new sign which renames the restaurant the West Coast Punk Rock Café.

Rebellion takes place at Blackpool Winter Gardens from Thursday August 7 to Sunday August 10 and features more than 300 bands, but performers will be playing at various other venues in the town too.

Robert, who is still known by many for being the former mayor of Blackpool, from 2008/9, is a successful businessman who opened West Coast in 1987, with wife Gaynor.

He envisaged it as the kind of place young couples and families could enjoy eating at an affordable price, with the added attraction of satellite TV and a range of imaginative burgers and other fairly light offerings.

It is still going strong after nearly 40 years and some of the staff members have been there more than 20 years.

The pair also own the Rose and Crown on Corporation Street and the Brew Room on Church Street.

Robert said: “I would say that the Rebellion Festival is the biggest and best event of the year for Blackpool town centre and the hospitality trade. The cafés, bars and restaurants all benefit.

“I still think local people don’t quite realise how important this event is, globally, for the punk movement. It is arguably the biggest punk rock festival in the world, in term of its international following.

“Every year the festival includes bands and fans from all over the world, from America, right across Europe and other places too,

“At West Coast I get phone calls from bands in America who want to play here during Rebellion week.

“And, over the past four or five years, the festival has fanned out to include lots of other venues in Blackpool, aside from the Winter Gardens, which is fabulous.

“The bands and the fans are great too – they look fabulous and there’s never any trouble. It’s such a brilliant event for Blackpool, in every sense.

“There’s probably no venue in the world which is better suited to this festival than the Winter Gardens – it can accommodate 3,000 fans for big-name bands like The Stranglers and at the same time accommodate obscure bands playing to 200 people. it’s got so many facets to it.”

For many years Robert was involved in the resort’s local political scenes as a councillor, including his tenure as mayor of Blackpool in 2007/8.

But he says he doesn’t miss it.

Robert, who was the leader of Blackpool’s Liberal Democrats for many years, said: “Those days are behind me and I’ve no desire to go back. I enjoyed it at the time but I won’t be returning.

“It’s a tough job in Blackpool these days, and I wish them the best of luck with it.”

06/08/2025

Blackpool Council has been rated ‘inadequate’ over its responsibilities to ensure the town’s most vulnerable people have access to adult social care and support.

PLUS: A particularly upsetting case where a girl was subjected to ‘unimaginable abuse’ at the hands of a man from Blackpool. He has unsuccessfully appealed his sentence.

04/08/2025

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb is going on tour later this August.

Branded as going 'Beyond The Prom' he will spend two weeks visiting each part of the constituency.

“I promised to be the most visible and accessible MP Blackpool has ever had and this roadshow is me delivering on that promise,” said Webb. “This isn’t just about listening. It’s about acting.”

He's planning to be in:
Claremont & Marton - 18 August
Hawes Side & Tyldesley - 19 August
Highfield & Squires Gate - 20 August
Victoria, Clifton & Park - 21 August
Warbreck & Greenlands - 22 August
Brunswick & Layton - 26 August
Waterloo & Stanley - 27 August
Talbot & Bloomfield - 28 August

04/08/2025

The operator of an odorous landfill site says the smell is now ‘barely perceptible’ –despite long-suffering residents saying it is just as bad.

Transwaste Ltd, which runs the Jameson Road Landfill Site in Fleetwood, sends out regular odour monitoring reports in the face of ongoing criticism about stinking chemical emissions from the site.

For the past 18 months, residents in Fleetwood and the surrounding area have complained bitterly about the vile stench of rotten eggs.

The smell is the result of emissions of chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide, sulphur dioxide and methane, which some people say have caused them to suffer nosebleeds, sore throats, headaches and breathing difficulties.

Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers has called for the site to be shut down, while the latest placard demonstration about the site took place as recently as Friday July 25. The Environment Agency is monitoring the site and on two occasions has halted operations until remediation work has been done to tackle the smell issue.

However, last week Transwaste’s PR team said that not only was the landfill site’s odour very low, but many other smells were detected which were more responsible for causing odour issues in the town and surrounding areas.

It also stated that cow manure was the main smell detected across the River Wyre, from rural farms.

The report said: “The latest odour monitoring report from the Jameson Road Landfill Site has shown continued success in managing emissions, with barely perceptible odour levels recorded throughout the week commencing 21 July 2025.

“Thanks to ongoing operational improvements, including the installation of additional horizontal gas extraction, odour control at the site remains robust.

“Despite a brief two-hour engine downtime, backup systems ensured uninterrupted gas field suction, maintaining effective containment of odorous gases.

“Data collected from across the community paints a positive picture.”

But campaigner Jess Brown, from protest group Action Against Jameson road Landfill, said: “These reports are fairy stories with no credibility at all.

“Until the last couple of days, when the wind has changed direction, the smell has been just as bad as ever.

“To include the smell of manure from farms across the water in its report is just ridiculous.

“The only way these emissions will stop is to simply shut the place down. The site is done and should not have been reopened after the previous operators left.”

The report for Transwaste says that among the odour detections picked up across all receptors, the most frequently noted were:

*Sewage-like odours, primarily linked to off-site infrastructure
*Perfume-type smells linked to local industry
*Fish odour linked to local industry
*Manure odour linked to local agriculture
*Isolated instances of rotten eggs typically associated with landfill gas emissions – although these were limited to the landfill site itself.

It concludes: “These odour hits were generally of low to intermittent intensity and were not widespread across the network of receptors.

“At high-sensitivity locations – such as residential areas – 88% of reports recorded no detectable odour. Of the few odours noted, mild fish-like or manure smells made up the remainder and were limited in scope and intensity.

“The fish odour was most prevalent a Asda, Fleetwood, Harbour Village, Broadwater Avenue, Larkholme Lane, Flakefleet Avenue, Cala Gran and Springfield Tearrace.

“The manure most odour was prevalent at Hambleton and Stalmine.

“Importantly, odours specifically linked to landfill gas, such as “rotten eggs,” represented only 5% of reports and were confined to on-site areas, well away from homes and public spaces.

“These findings reaffirm the commitment of the site operators to maintaining high environmental standards and protecting the wellbeing of the local community. Continuous monitoring and proactive measures are proving effective in minimising off-site impact.

“Residents can be assured that odour levels remain closely monitored. Jameson Road Landfill remains dedicated to transparency and ongoing improvement in environmental performance.”

Wyre Council, the landlord of the Jameson Road site, says the lease will not be renewed after December 31 2027.

03/08/2025

Given the recent lack of heavy rainfall, storm tanks should be able to cope. So why was human sewage pumped into the sea during July for 90 minutes at Blackpool's coastline?

Michael Holmes investigates for the latest edition of The Blackpool Lead.

PLUS: Eight years of the Anchorsholme sea wall compound angst set to be endured

02/08/2025

In tomorrow's edition of The Blackpool Lead we reveal how United Utilities spent an hour-and-a-half pumping human waste into the Irish Sea off the Fylde coast.

It's been five-and-a-half months since the last discharge, so why did it happen?

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02/08/2025

An area of Blackpool’s North Shore will feel the benefit of having access to potentially lifesaving defibrillators thanks to an ongoing project.

Campaigners have been working with Blackpool Council’s Be You initiative and the north West Ambulance Service Charity to raise funds for the vital devices.

The aim is to have as many of the defibrillators available in public places as possible in the town’s Rainbow Quarter.

And to that aim, an impressive total of £4,000 has been raised in the last eight months, with three of the items already installed and more on the way.

The defibrillators have been installed outside the Mardi Gras Hotel and Delovely Hotel, both located on Lord Street, and Peek-a-Booze hotel and cabaret bar on Dickson Road.

Two further defibrillators are planned to be installed at Funny Girls cabaret show bar and Renaissance Charity.

What are defibrillators?

A defibrillator is a medical device that delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat in cases of cardiac arrest or certain heart rhythm problems. It’s a crucial tool for saving lives during sudden cardiac arrest.
For every minute that passes without defibrillation, survival rates decrease, making quick access and use of a defibrillator crucial. Thankfully they are easy to use, with clear instructions provided.

What is Be You ?

Be You is a Blackpool-wide movement created as an inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

Developed by the council in partnership with local organisations, it brings together local government, businesses, creatives, and residents to support health, safety, economic growth and cultural expression in the town’s emerging Rainbow Quarter.

What they said

Coun Jo Farrell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing at Blackpool Council, said: “This equipment can easily mean the difference between life and death when someone suffers from a medical emergency such as a cardiac arrest so it’s fantastic to see three defibrillators installed in the Rainbow Quarter.

“As a council, we would like to thank the generous LGBTQ+ community in Blackpool for their donations to help supply the equipment.

“Hopefully, nobody will need to use any of this equipment, however it is extremely important to make sure that it is available to help save a life if the time comes.”

Shaun Pickup, member of the Be You partnership and chair of the Blackpool Rainbow Alliance, said: “We have now raised funds to buy four defibrillators for the Rainbow Quarter and I want to thank all those LGBTQiA+ members of our community who have supported us and donated so generously. Together our community has now raised just under £4,000 with defibrillators being placed along Lord Street and Dickson Road.

“I particularly want to thank all those venues along Lord Street who have supported the initiative, as it is through them that the money has been raised.
Additionally, I’d like to thank Garry Richardson who has given so generously.”

02/08/2025

A works compound set to be sited in front of seaside homes could be there for eight years, it is feared.

The construction compound will serve the ongoing coastal defence work currently being undertaken at Anchorsholme by contractor Balfour Beatty and is to be sited on the seafront, just south of Little Bispham tram station.

it will also be directly in front of residents from the Wilvere Court apartments and those living nearby.

Residents who campaigned against the compound had a chance this week to see some designs intended to lessen the visual impact.

Designs were on show at a two-day consultation event at Anchorsholme Park.

The scenic murals impressed some of those who attended, including Norbreck councillor Julie Sloman, who felt the designs would enhance the unsightly blue fencing of the compound.

But she said residents were less happy when they heard the compound is likely to be a longer term amenity.

Cllr Sloman, who has supported residents in their unsuccessful campaign to have the compound sited in possible alternative locations, said the duration of the construction compound was a concern.

She said: “Residents were asking questions and one man was told it was likely that the compound would be there for up to eight years.

“People would be happy to put up with the decorative mural fencing for a couple of years but eight is a long time – to long to put up with that.

“There are plans by Balfour Beatty to continue with the coastal protection work along the beaches, right up to Glynn Square.

“It will not be a quick ting and that has always been my concern.

“The designs for the fencing would be an improvement but not for eight years.”

01/08/2025

It’s no secret that Blackpool has been the gay capital of the North for decades. Its vibrant LBGTQ+ community continues to thrive and now provides at least twenty five friendly venues, in addition to the new ‘Be You’ branding initiative.

It’s no surprise that our town can boast this title when we consider how the growth of tourism, and an increasingly diverse range of entertainment, has provided visitors to Blackpool with a sense of freedom and escape from the constraints of everyday life for generations.

Our latest local history piece sees Anne Charlesworth explore the story of Captain Edward Rigby - convicted in 1698 of so**my

Local historian Anne Charlesworth writes on Captain Edward Rigby - convicted in 1698 of so**my

01/08/2025

Proposals to revive leisure activities at Blackpool’s former Odeon Cinema have been given another lift by planners.

The former 10-screen cinema on Bloomfield Central (formerly Festival Leisure Park) on Rigby Road closed in June 2023 when its lease came to an end and has been empty ever since, with the movie screens now stripped out.

Preston-based Austringer Capital, now operating as AIM Land Ltd, already had planning permission for the building to be used for leisure which could include activities such as bowling, trampolining, crazy golf, arcade games, climbing walls or indoor sports such as padel or five-a-side football.

And those plans are now back in the pipeline after subsequent proposals for the building to be used for self storage were refused by council planners, and an appeal was unsuccessful.

However, despite the leisure plans being previously approved, the applicants still sought a certificate of lawfulness to confirm that work in support of that planning permission had been carried out lawfully according to the requirements.

A large part of that work included the removal of the property’s canopy, a significant part of the building.

The bid by the applicants has now proved successful, with the certificate of lawfulness granted for the works.

A planning officer’s report stated: “Planning permission was granted for a range of works including alterations to the frontage of the former cinema building.

“This applications seeks a certificate of lawfulness to confirm that this permission has been lawfully implemented through the removal of a canopy which extended the full width of the building’s front elevation.

“The works form part of the approved alterations to the building’s frontage and are integral to the visual transformation envisaged by the permission.

“As such, they fall squarely within the scope of the permission granted.”

The original planning permission granted was for external alterations, including installation of glazed shop fronts, cladding, render an additional glazing and use of premises as altered as indoor sport, recreation or fitness, with two fast food a nd drinks units to ground floor.

Austringer Capital Ltd has already brought Club 3000 Bingo and a Starbucks drive-thru to the site.

Meanwhile, Blackpool has a new picturehouse, entertainments hub and diner – the Backlot Cinema – which opened at the Houndshill shopping complex in March 2024 and includes a wide IMAX screen.