A couple of years ago Blackpool Council unveiled ‘The Saturation policy’ which in one sentence is basically a policy that was meant to curb the opening of binge drinking outlets. Now at first that sounds like a admirable enough ambition to try and restore a bit of quality to Blackpool’s nightscene.
Unlike some of the doom-mongering moaners on the Gasjet site I actually regularly frequent Blackpool town centre at night. It is a very good night out Blackpool, don’t believe the negative stereotypes of stag and hens throwing up everywhere and fights on every corner. Blackpool is a very safe place compared to some places I have seen and been to. There is actually a very good police (proper police, no PCSO jobsworths) presence also.
So what is the big problem? The problem is and this is NOT a Blackpool problem it is a problem encountered by all major towns and cities up and down the country; BINGE DRINKING. Many of the experts believe the root cause of the binge drinking timebomb is drinks promotions and the low price of drinks.
So in response the Council acted, hence the saturation policy. The policy was originally developed to try and curb the opening of so-called ‘vertical drinking dens’ which are seen as binge drinking hotspots.
However the policy has been very poorly implemented as far as I am concerned and the out of touch councillors on the Licencing Committee are trying to use it as a blanket ban on any new pubs/bars/licenced venues opening, which makes no sense.
I agree completely with the underlying message of the policy trying to prevent an onslaught of cheap low-quality drinking dens. But it should not be an excuse to stop any licences being awarded. Some fine examples of high-quality establishments include The Green Parrot (Clifton St), Diamant (Church St) and the upcoming Sands Venue (the old Palace). These places prove that being a bar doesn’t automatically mean they are hotspots for trouble. The above venues are all high-qualty establishments. Thankfully none of them fell foul of the policy.
But when JD Wetherspoon first announced its intentions to open a long-awaited JDW in Blackpool in the old Pricebusters, the licence was approved. But then certain councillors on the committee kicked off about the decision saying it makes a mockery of the policy. But the policy clearly stated that if an applicant can prove they are a reputable and or family-friendly establishment meeting certain conditions they will be granted a licence. That sounds fair enough. But councillors including Henry Mitchell (very nice man but a bit of touch sometimes) made a big fuss saying the licence violated the policy. Essentially demanding the policy be a blanket ban on new pubs and bars much to the delight of Dave Daly (but that’s another story).
Another controversy involved local entertainer/businessman Mike Simmons (aka Joey Blower) who wanted to open an upmarket bar on Queen St but was blocked because of the silly implementation of the policy. Jack Croysdill took great delight in ranting about it in the Gasjet, of course not because he supported Mr Simmons but as always with Croysdill it was pure political pointscoring.
Anyhow the bottom line of this article; I agree with the policy in principle but it should not be a blanket ban on licenced establishments. If I had my way I would reform and clarify the policy making it so that a prospective licencee is assessed on the quality of the establishment they want to open. I would not say ‘There’s no room for anymore inns, rejected’ which is pretty much what it is now. The decision should be based on QUALITY NOT QUANTITY.
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Here here, Quality prevails!
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I know this is off-topic but I help but laugh at it. The other day Jack Straw felt the wrath of the ‘proud’ Prestonians by referring to Preston as ‘brash and soulless’ in the LEP. Nothing wrong with that because to put it bluntly he’s right. Then yesterday he went in the LEP again claiming he meant his remarks as a joke and said ‘I love Preston to bits’, what a bloody joke. Wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact Preston has a Labour MP and is a strong Labour area would it? Because like I say not often I agree with a Labour MP but Straw’s original comments were on the money.
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Cack Straw is a joke, a sick joke, why? cos hes a LIEBOUR MP, thats why!
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who was blackpudding?
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I’m more than happy to welcome you as one of the “few”!
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Will you please block that idiot Phil, they are using a clearly fake email address and I am sick to death of these childish insults. I will email you their IP address if you don’t have it already.
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Whilst I don’t doubt your sincere dislike of this individual, TB, blocking him/her would seem to go against Phil’s guiding ethos for his blog. Naturally, it’s his blog and his word is final, but short of anything obviously libellous and/ or potentially illegal (it’s so disappointing that we live in an age of ‘thought crime’), I can’t see any reason to ban someone just because they dislike and disagree with your comments. They might not be ‘heartwarming’, but the comments I’ve read aren’t on the same scale as, say, Harold’s.
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They are not ‘disagreeing’ with me, they are coming on with childish insults just deliberately attacking me for no reason when I have done nothing wrong. I don’t have any problem with people disgareeing with me but there is a difference between disagreeing and just plain namecalling and insults. This is a friendly site I do not come on here to be bullied. I am not allowing such abuse, there is no need for it. If people want to debate and discuss issues like grown-ups then fine. But I am not having idiots with vendettas coming on here spouting bile at me.
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Well, I suppose you have a different perspective on it, but I honestly don’t think they’re “beyond the pale”. There are far, far worse comments out there in the Blogosphere.
Take them in your stride. If they really bother you, why not just do what Phil does and add them to the ‘endorsements’ sidebar?
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Fair enough John, but they do bother me, because I am sick of being targeted by these sad pathetic bigots when I have done nothing wrong. They need to grow up and get a life. I will block any insulting comments on any of my articles because like I say this a friendly site for intelligent civilised debate not a refuge for saddos to spout bile at me.
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The very reason you do get them is because you don’t like them and its plain to see! People like to wind you up because you go off on one about it, and whilst you do, people will still call you names.
As John’s said, what that person said was not even in the same stratosphere as some of the things Harold and indeed yourself have said about people. You only have to scroll down to see some examples of that!
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lol if people want to abuse me thats fine, I like abuse, lol
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Fair point Phil, I do agree that I am encouraging these losers by giving them fodder which is what I need to avoid doing. I wish I could take your positive attitude Harold, lol.
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I have sent an article Phil, cheers H
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I do check my email, dont need reminding on here
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sorry Phil it wasnt meant like that, I know you are a busy man, honest!
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Apologies if this seems to make no sense, this is aimed at the childish cunt who wrote an abusive comment on here earlier. I have made it very clear before I DO NOT tolerate any abuse and namecalling. Don’t you dare insult me, you can fuck off and leave me alone. I have not been hounded off the Gazette by anyone. I have a right to speak and some little idiot like you is not going to stop me.
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Tell him to FUCK OFF TB, cos thats all he is: a CUNT.
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Well said Harold as far as I am concerned there is a fine line between disagreement and personal attacks.
For example; I am a Conservative supporter, I have a debate with a Labour supporter and we both have strongly differing views. Then I say Labour is bad for the country after 13 years of neglect, then the Labour supporter says ‘I disagree here is the reasons why I feel Labour is good for the country?’ That is a disagreement but it would be civilised and grown up. The Labour supporter turning around and saying ‘You are an opinionated bigot pontificating rubbish and don’t know what you’re on about, you’re a joke’ is not a disagreement, that is just childish insults and namecalling and as I say I will not stand for it.
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Sounds like you won the argument and hes a bad loser;you are right ,on balance,labour has been bad for this country,especially now we have a PM we never voted for.
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As we have gone completely of topic I will drop in a post (which I have put on another bog site) Penny Martin is now officially the Labour PPC for Blackpool North. This brings up a problem for me personally I feel New Labour have betrayed any socialist principals that they ever had and they are a very very bad government. I was sure I wasn’t going to vote Labour equally I thought Joan Humble was the worst type of MP. However Penny is the type of MP we should be looking for she was an excellent councillor (you couldn’t ask for a better one everyone how had any dealings with her say this). So should you vote for the best candidate or against them because they are in a very bad party?
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Hi John I have sent Phil an article in respect of Penny Martin, I agree she was a good councillor but shes in the wrong party.
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Despite the fact I despise Liebour and everything they stand for, I must admit I have heard some good things about Penny Martin. I wouldn’t vote for her because Labour has done Blackpool no favours and I hate socialism. But also as a protest at this stupid all-woman shortlist I’m putting together an article on this pure sexism and discrimination. As far as I am concerned she was not selected democratically but then it is Labour. Funny watching Croysdill defending it claiming its all about ‘fairness’ a concept totally alien to Labour.
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Croysdills comments abour fairness carry as much credibility as Hitler saying he loved jews.
Croysdill is a walking advert for involuntary euthanasia on the grounds of insoluble mental defficency.
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