Blackpool Council submitted a £50m bid to Government yesterday (Aug 6) following public consultation to help shape the town’s future.
If successful, the Town Deal bid will through from the £3.6bn Towns Fund, and is one of 101 bids from UK towns for investment of up to £25m, or up to £50m in exceptional circumstances.
Blackpool residents were invited to have their say in the future of the town in regards to how the bid would best be spent. An online survey saw 30,000 people read about the Town Deal, over 6,600 people visit the website and leave 1,119 comments.
A further 101 telephone interviews took place to reach a decision on the top priorities of the town, covering regeneration, improved transport, better broadband connectivity, skills and culture.
Priorities that emerged were the investment into the Housing Market, the tourist offer, Town Centre regeneration, transport, technology, and social services.
Leader of Blackpool Council Cllr Lynn Williams said:
“We’re delighted with the response from the public at a time when face-to-face consultation has been virtually non-existent. The online survey has allowed us to reach more members of the local community than we would otherwise been able to do. The input has been considered and thoughtful, and is vital in helping us create a plan for the future of Blackpool, so thank you to all who took part.”
Individual projects that could feel the benefits of the funding include the delivery of new road and access improvements and Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, upgrades and modernisation to the illuminations and a town-centre based development to support start-ups and small businesses.
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