On Thursday last week the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government confirmed that the Government’s financial input into the council’s acquisition of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens was not going to be withdrawn. Robert Neill put it bluntly;
“The fact is that deal is done; the money has been spent. We are not seeking to undo it”.
Pretty unequivocal but it has not stopped Gordon Marsden trying to score some points against LibCon;
“it still remains to be seen whether or not the Treasury will try and stop this in the future”
It still remains to be seen whether you will do a proper job as an MP, Gordon. Your comments are not helpful, nor is the spin your personal media outlet has applied to the story.
GD Star Rating
loading…
loading…
If im right it was the Tresury that have confirmed that the deal is still under review and it is them who will decide not Eric Pickles and his band of merry men.
loading...
You could well be right – where did you read that?
loading...
If anyone else had made such a wishy washy comment, the gasjet would have ignored it. But because it is from Marsden the gasjet give it coverage it does not deserve, what a strange paper.
loading...
I hope the deal does collapse, providing Blackpool council tax payers are not left to find the money if the contracts have already been signed,I can only see this coming back to bite us up the arse, as the grants available with the last government may now be in short supply, which will mean the local tax payer picking up the bill. I know some of you think that Merlin entertainments will be our saviour,but since the contract they have signed up to has not been seen by the electorate how can we assume that it is good for the local tax payer. It may be the the council has to maintain all the buildings with Merlin just donating a small percentage of any operating profits who knows. We only have to look at the zoo,airport,sandcastle and now the ghost train to realise that this council could not even run a piss up in a brewery.This is either going to cost us a fortune and we are going to see local service cut backs. If the private sector cannot make a success of it then there is no way this council will.
loading...
I beg to disagree with Mr Palmer, nobody could be worse than Liesure Parcs. The Tower is and will remain profitable or at break even if suitable money continues to be spent on maintance.
The Winter Gardens should be handed over to a charitable trust similar to the Grand Theatre, with the sole object of encouraging promoting and hosting the maximum number of events, shows, concerts, exhibitions and conferences that fill hotel and guest house beds, and local food and beverage outlets.
The other assets should be sold off as soon as it is viable. Selling off the Zoo,and the airport was a good idea. It was organised by a leading Lib Dem Cllr.
I agree the council should not run them. Merlin will run most and hopfully they will buy them when the time is right and economy is back to normal.
loading...
A Blackpool Liberal Democrat,I do hope you are right,I would not relish getting on my soap box and saying I told you it would end in tears. I am just concerned that it is going to be the local tax payer who suffers if this goes pearshaped,these decaying buildings are going to cost a fortune to maintain,I’m sure the cost of maintaining these will out strip any income so therefore the burden will have to be met by the local electorate, unless we can asses these grants that used to be available with the previous government. but I very much doubt they will be available now, due to the huge debts that we have inherited. Lets face it neither this council or the previous one has even got the basic structure of the town right,we have loads of social problems,the road and transport infrastructure is a major concern,shortage of public toilets shortage of bins throughout the town centre and seafront,rubbish all over the streets.
I would rather have seen the effort been put into a multi purpose arena been built in the on the old Mecca site, and I do know that a massive promoter from a huge organisation (sorry cant name names or the company involved at the moment) has been in town who is interested in bringing the finance and promotions to make such a venue profitable,he has looked at the Wintergardens and said it is not large enough or in the right location because of the transport infrastructure around it.
He wants a minimum of 20,000 capacity,something to take on the MEN which is the most successful arena in the country,and cost in the region of 55 million to build,it would double up for trade shows as well as conferences,he is based down south but loves the town and is convinced that people would rather come to Blackpool for a short break as opposed to going to Manchester,he believes that Blackpool has accommodation to suit all tastes and Budgets unlike other towns.,although he does think we would need a 5 star rated hotel on site. The major stumbling block at the moment is the price that the council values this site at, can’t go into figures because of commercial sensitivity, but it is eye watering I would rather the council sell the land for a pound than see it empty for years to come, and lose out on another organisation willing to invest millions of pounds into the town,it would benefit everyone in Blackpool,hopefully bring a lot more tourist to town and top class acts for us to see on our door step,maybe then we would stand a chance of winning back the trade shows and conferences that we have lost to other towns,that used to be a huge benifit to all the bussiness in Blackpool.
loading...
Sounds like you should be on the Council with me next May, what Ward do you want to fight?
loading...
Sounds excellent David Palmer. I am furious that Labour lost the funding for our new college campus but I do agree it would be an excellent site for a multi-purpose entertainment/leisure venue. It sounds like the Council should just sell off the site to your friend who would bring a massive much-needed injection of private sector investment into Blackpool and hopefully stimulate more private investment. I agree such a venture would benefit everyone; locals, businesses and visitors.
loading...
One of the good things about Merlin coming to Blackpool is their combined marketing power, to cross promote attractions to a Southern audience.
Now all we need to do is to get the people from the south here to enjoy them, anyone know a good “Open Access” railway operator who would like to invest in a rail service from Blackpool to London.
loading...