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Blackpool MP spells out regeneration challenge
8:58pm Monday 20th August 2007
Comments (8)Tonight Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden outlined his response to Blackpool's Regeneration Task Force.
Speaking on the principle and practice of regeneration Mr Marsden addressed the town's Civic Trust in the council chambers at Blackpool Town Hall.
In his speech Mr Marsden made some key suggestions for policy-makers "Blackpool has a proud heritage as a holiday resort and it offers unique experiences for visitors, but is in urgent need of regeneration."
Mr Marsden said: "The challenge which has always faced Blackpool is to create a virtuous circle of investment, profits, skills and jobs.
"In the past this has been successfully done by a combination of private entrepreneurship bolstered by public sector support.
"The challenge now is to renew our town with a sustainable economic motor - crucially attracting private sector investment - to power economic regeneration for the future."
Mr Marsden commented: "Blackpool's problems are painfully exposed in its housing situation. There is an urgent need to address the poor quality and overcrowded housing which dominates much of our accommodation infrastructure. Landscaping for housing is increasingly important and Blackpool should take advantage of the Labour Government's focus on housing investment and look at attracting both public and private money to upgrade our housing stock."
Mr Marsden said Blackpool must develop a vision for its public spaces "Sensitive development and design which inspires people is just as important. We have to create intelligent designs and landscapes for our town centre and seafront which are environmentally sustainable as well as functional.
"To address this I have suggested reducing VAT on repairs and restoration - this would bring into use new living space which would ease housing pressure and conserve worthwhile buildings.
"I have also suggested a council tax or business rates relief to those landlords who are willing to create new living spaces and charge affordable rents."
Your Say YourBlackpool Citizen
Not Quite Hayek, says...
1:39pm Tue 21 Aug 07
Throwing yet more public money at housing is not the answer, either. That just perpetuates the culture of dependency and lack of zeal in the town, although this obviously works to Labour's advantage.
Not Quite Hayek, says...
1:39pm Tue 21 Aug 07
Throwing yet more public money at housing is not the answer, either. That just perpetuates the culture of dependency and lack of zeal in the town, although this obviously works to Labour's advantage.
Not Quite Hayek, says...
1:39pm Tue 21 Aug 07
Throwing yet more public money at housing is not the answer, either. That just perpetuates the culture of dependency and lack of zeal in the town, although this obviously works to Labour's advantage.
Dean Barr, talbot road says...
10:07pm Fri 2 Nov 07
it reminded me of something ive only ever seen on television ..... a landfill site
as a manager of a business and a local town centre resident, if i leave my rubbish out or overfill my bins then i either get charged or they dont take my rubbish away. The fact is that the excess rubbish in and around bins for the business is put the by tourist who have problems finding a council bin even half empty.
We also have a methadone distribution centre 200 yards form the main train station (a route in which ALL train travelling tourists have to take to get to the (landfill site) sorry beach.
We are therefor saying to the tourists .. welcome to the Gateway to blackpool, we hope you dont mind stepping over the smackheads and drunks lining our gutters and we hope you find a clean piece of beach.
Blackpool council spend over £1 million a week in housing benefit i dread to think how much it costs to feed the habits of the lucky boys and girls who get free methadone and money if your a registered alchoholic.
im an addict, addicted to nicotine
mmm i wonder if they would buy 20
Dean Barr, talbot road says...
10:07pm Fri 2 Nov 07
it reminded me of something ive only ever seen on television ..... a landfill site
as a manager of a business and a local town centre resident, if i leave my rubbish out or overfill my bins then i either get charged or they dont take my rubbish away. The fact is that the excess rubbish in and around bins for the business is put the by tourist who have problems finding a council bin even half empty.
We also have a methadone distribution centre 200 yards form the main train station (a route in which ALL train travelling tourists have to take to get to the (landfill site) sorry beach.
We are therefor saying to the tourists .. welcome to the Gateway to blackpool, we hope you dont mind stepping over the smackheads and drunks lining our gutters and we hope you find a clean piece of beach.
Blackpool council spend over £1 million a week in housing benefit i dread to think how much it costs to feed the habits of the lucky boys and girls who get free methadone and money if your a registered alchoholic.
im an addict, addicted to nicotine
mmm i wonder if they would buy 20
Dean Barr, talbot road says...
10:07pm Fri 2 Nov 07
it reminded me of something ive only ever seen on television ..... a landfill site
as a manager of a business and a local town centre resident, if i leave my rubbish out or overfill my bins then i either get charged or they dont take my rubbish away. The fact is that the excess rubbish in and around bins for the business is put the by tourist who have problems finding a council bin even half empty.
We also have a methadone distribution centre 200 yards form the main train station (a route in which ALL train travelling tourists have to take to get to the (landfill site) sorry beach.
We are therefor saying to the tourists .. welcome to the Gateway to blackpool, we hope you dont mind stepping over the smackheads and drunks lining our gutters and we hope you find a clean piece of beach.
Blackpool council spend over £1 million a week in housing benefit i dread to think how much it costs to feed the habits of the lucky boys and girls who get free methadone and money if your a registered alchoholic.
im an addict, addicted to nicotine
mmm i wonder if they would buy 20
Dean Barr, talbot road says...
10:07pm Fri 2 Nov 07
it reminded me of something ive only ever seen on television ..... a landfill site
as a manager of a business and a local town centre resident, if i leave my rubbish out or overfill my bins then i either get charged or they dont take my rubbish away. The fact is that the excess rubbish in and around bins for the business is put the by tourist who have problems finding a council bin even half empty.
We also have a methadone distribution centre 200 yards form the main train station (a route in which ALL train travelling tourists have to take to get to the (landfill site) sorry beach.
We are therefor saying to the tourists .. welcome to the Gateway to blackpool, we hope you dont mind stepping over the smackheads and drunks lining our gutters and we hope you find a clean piece of beach.
Blackpool council spend over £1 million a week in housing benefit i dread to think how much it costs to feed the habits of the lucky boys and girls who get free methadone and money if your a registered alchoholic.
im an addict, addicted to nicotine
mmm i wonder if they would buy 20
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Not Quite Hayek, says...
1:39pm Tue 21 Aug 07
Throwing yet more public money at housing is not the answer, either. That just perpetuates the culture of dependency and lack of zeal in the town, although this obviously works to Labour's advantage.