http://philtheone.com Right-leaning Blackpool blog covering South Shore, North Shore, Marton, Bispham, Cleveleys and the rest of the Fylde discussing politics, local life, tourism, national issues and the rest of the world. Lively discussions encouraged! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:36:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://philtheone.com/2011/12/blackpool-labours-illuminations-stealth-tax/ http://philtheone.com/2011/12/blackpool-labours-illuminations-stealth-tax/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:33:26 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=5584 THE CASH-GRAB starts here. Cllr Fisher set the tone with crushing council tax hikes, but Cllr Blackburn has opted for a more subtle approach.]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/12/blackpool-labours-illuminations-stealth-tax/feed/ 9 http://philtheone.com/2011/09/begging-bowl-out-for-illuminations/ http://philtheone.com/2011/09/begging-bowl-out-for-illuminations/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:50:36 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=5061 PENNY PINCHING councillors have called for every visitor to Blackpool Illuminations to contribute £1 in donations because of a cash shortfall.]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/09/begging-bowl-out-for-illuminations/feed/ 17 http://philtheone.com/2011/05/merlin-and-the-magical-money-tree/ http://philtheone.com/2011/05/merlin-and-the-magical-money-tree/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 08:35:44 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=4506 MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS were hailed as the saviour of Blackpool's ailing tourism industry. So why does the deal look so shady?]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/05/merlin-and-the-magical-money-tree/feed/ 43 http://philtheone.com/2011/04/1st-bispham-scouts-slammed-with-13900-rent-hike/ http://philtheone.com/2011/04/1st-bispham-scouts-slammed-with-13900-rent-hike/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:38:15 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=4322 THE 80 year old 1st Bispham Scout and Guide group has been rocked after Blackpool council walloped them with a 13,900% increase in their ground rent.]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/04/1st-bispham-scouts-slammed-with-13900-rent-hike/feed/ 21 http://philtheone.com/2011/04/local-election-2011-preview-and-predictions/ http://philtheone.com/2011/04/local-election-2011-preview-and-predictions/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:46:53 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=4233 THE MANIFESTOS are out and the candidate lists are in, here's my preview and predictions for Blackpool's 2011 local election.]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/04/local-election-2011-preview-and-predictions/feed/ 40 http://philtheone.com/2011/03/local-election-leaflet-labours-five-pledges/ http://philtheone.com/2011/03/local-election-leaflet-labours-five-pledges/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:58:08 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=4158 LABOUR FIRE the first shots in the local elections with some hard hitting leaflets exposing their opponents, but do they have the policies to win over the voters?]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/03/local-election-leaflet-labours-five-pledges/feed/ 27 http://philtheone.com/2011/01/talbot-could-win-no-bell-prize/ http://philtheone.com/2011/01/talbot-could-win-no-bell-prize/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:31:39 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=3788 IT WAS already well known that Cllr Gary Bell would not be standing again for the Conservatives in May’s local elections, but it could it be the case that his brother Ron may not stand either. In last year’s general election, Ron Bell stood as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservative Party in Blackpool [...more]]]> http://philtheone.com/2011/01/talbot-could-win-no-bell-prize/feed/ 14 http://philtheone.com/2010/12/police-raid-shop-for-heroes-councillor-arrested/ http://philtheone.com/2010/12/police-raid-shop-for-heroes-councillor-arrested/#comments Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:58:14 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=3714 IT WAS a scene which would have befit a textbook SAS manœuvre. After the initial blast of stun grenades, balaclava-clad armed personnel, complete with breathing apparatus, were seen abseiling down the Tower buildings, kicking through thick glass windows and bailing into the Shop for Heroes HQ; the laser sight of their Heckler and Koch MP5s [...more]]]> http://philtheone.com/2010/12/police-raid-shop-for-heroes-councillor-arrested/feed/ 8 http://philtheone.com/2010/12/theft-from-heroes-or-party-political-witch-hunt/ http://philtheone.com/2010/12/theft-from-heroes-or-party-political-witch-hunt/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:57:40 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=3684 A SHOP tied to the FESLC is under investigation for posing as a charitable operation, with donations for veterans lying unused in a bank account whilst at least one councillor creams off an income. This councillor has now been kicked out of the Tory party and deselected. Is this as dodgy as it first appears?]]> http://philtheone.com/2010/12/theft-from-heroes-or-party-political-witch-hunt/feed/ 40 http://philtheone.com/2010/10/how-to-scam-2m-out-of-blackpool-business/ http://philtheone.com/2010/10/how-to-scam-2m-out-of-blackpool-business/#comments Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:07:16 +0000 Philtheone http://philtheone.com/?p=3293 I HAVE certainly had my eyes opened this morning by some documents I received in relation to the Blackpool Business Improvement District (BID). The what? Let me explain. In 2003 the Local Government Act defined the concept of the business improvement district within the UK. Essentially, it’s a an area of town within which the [...more]]]> http://philtheone.com/2010/10/how-to-scam-2m-out-of-blackpool-business/feed/ 8