Blackpool - Recommendation and Request!

[Masbroughlad]

Had a day in Blackpool. The money that has been spent there is making a difference. The sea defences and promenade are excellent (if a bit stark) and the new tramway and trams are amazing. Made me think how many more cities would benefit from modern trams (Leeds for starters!).

Pity the rest of the seafront and shops, hotels etc are so run down. Sad to see.

Also, sorry to see that you can't wander around the Pleasure Beach anymore without paying an entrance fee (of £6!). My Dad and I used to like potering around there, playing the slots, games etc and having a few drinks and food.

One brilliant thing in Blackpool is 'The Comedy Carpet' - a very innovative piece of public art opposite the Tower on the new prom. If you haven't seen it - it really is worth a look. Had us laughing out loud - which has to be a good thing on a cold, grey October day .

(As an aside - when did Blackpool Central station close? Looking at a map, it was further down the line from one of the other stations. Did it wend its wap parallel to the seafront? Anyone point me in the direction of pictures please?)

Thanks.

 

[Greenback]

I haven't been to Blackpool for years, but if you look at Google Maps or Google Earth, it should be possible to spot the old trackbed, which, as I recall, was replaced by a long line of car parks!

The approaches to the old Central station were multi track and the old formation wa spretty wide. Plus there wer ealso the old excursion sidings as well, so the railway used to take up a fair bit of land.

Something I didn't realise until I visited the town is that Blackpool North is actually the site of the old excursion platforms, the main Talbot Road station was located further to the south east and was, at the time of my visit, a shopping complex.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

(As an aside - when did Blackpool Central station close? Looking at a map, it was further down the line from one of the other stations. Did it wend its wap parallel to the seafront? Anyone point me in the direction of pictures please?)

When Blackpool Central station with its 14 platforms closed in 1964, it was the station with the largest number of platforms to close in the 1960's station closure programme.

Local political machinations were to the fore at that time as Blackpool North was the original station contained in the closure programme plans, but matters received interference by local councilors. I do neither have the time nor the inclination to fully report these cases of malfeasance, but they are readily available in the public domain.

 

[IanD]

Also, sorry to see that you can't wander around the Pleasure Beach anymore without paying an entrance fee (of £6!). My Dad and I used to like potering around there, playing the slots, games etc and having a few drinks and food.

£6 - they're having a laugh. They used to pride themselves on being Europe's largest "free to enter" tourist attraction. They also banned people from bringing their own food in last year. Don't think I'll be popping in any time soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13320774

 

[WestCoast]

I was born in Blackpool and grew up there, so for all its many faults (e.g. lack of year-round employment), I do find myself defending the town quite a lot.

The regeneration has been a long and expensive process, but it really has made a difference. Even the skeptics and moaners seem to recognise that it was necessary now. Not that I agree with everything they've done, the monstrosities on Birley Street are completely out of character.

The Central Promenade is unregonisable in terms of layout and street furniture from what it was a few years ago. Not only the touristy areas have been improved, if you head inland to the main shopping areas it's much nicer than how it used to be.

As for the shops/hotels, well it's difficult to go more upmarket when you can barely fill the units and the council need the business rates. However, I would say that Central Prom and South Shore are the worst bits for that general run down feeling. That's not the town centre, although it's often mistaken for it. North Shore (northwards from North Pier) is fine and offers top brand hotels like Hilton and Barcelo. Blackpool is a much bigger town than visitors realise.

The tramway is still a source of debate. Personally, I think it was a wise decision to revamp it, but I do think the Council and Blackpool Transport should be careful not to eliminate the heritage of this great system. Blackpool was for many years the only public transport tramway operational in the country.

As for the Pleasure Beach, well, most locals also disagree with how it is run by the Thompsons, but the council and locals have no say of course. The Council has been keen to control tourist assets, hence why they purchased the Tower and Sandcastle. I believe Merlin run them on behalf of the Council and are doing a good job.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I was born in Blackpool and grew up there, so for all its many faults (e.g. lack of year-round employment), I do find myself defending the town quite a lot.

The regeneration has been a long and expensive process, but it really has made a difference. Even the skeptics and moaners seem to recognise that it was necessary now. Not that I agree with everything they've done, the monstrosities on Birley Street are completely out of character.

The Central Promenade is unregonisable in terms of layout and street furniture from what it was a few years ago. Not only the touristy areas have been improved, if you head inland to the main shopping areas it's much nicer than how it used to be.

As for the shops/hotels, well it's difficult to go more upmarket when you can barely fill the units and the council need the business rates. However, I would say that Central Prom and South Shore are the worst bits for that general run down feeling. That's not the town centre, although it's often mistaken for it. North Shore (northwards from North Pier) is fine and offers top brand hotels like Hilton and Barcelo. Blackpool is a much bigger town than visitors realise.

The tramway is still a source of debate. Personally, I think it was a wise decision to revamp it, but I do think the Council and Blackpool Transport should be careful not to eliminate the heritage of this great system. Blackpool was for many years the only public transport tramway operational in the country.

As for the Pleasure Beach, well, most locals also disagree with how it is run by the Thompsons, but the council and locals have no say of course. The Council has been keen to control tourist assets, hence why they purchased the Tower and Sandcastle. I believe Merlin run them on behalf of the Council and are doing a good job.

Do they still use the older and "Balloon" trams or are they all modern, single or double decker trams since the recent revamp of the tramway? Are tram conductors still employed too?

 

[Masbroughlad]

On daily service they were all very slick modern single deckers. Old heritage trams on illumination tours.

There were three conductors on the tram we went on.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Central Promenade is unregonisable in terms of layout and street furniture from what it was a few years ago. Not only the touristy areas have been improved, if you head inland to the main shopping areas it's much nicer than how it used to be. As for the shops/hotels, well it's difficult to go more upmarket when you can barely fill the units and the council need the business rates. However, I would say that Central Prom and South Shore are the worst bits for that general run down feeling.

The trouble here is that the Central Promenade area and that of the South Shore are still seen by many visitors as "the real Blackpool", perhaps an image that is generational, but which will still give Blackpool a poor visual image until a decision is made on the exact image that Blackpool will be expected to portray in the 21st century in order to keep the resort to the fore in terms of holiday marketing.

Manchester seems to have accepted a quaint view of "bohemian visual deprivation" in that city-centre part of the area commonly referred to the "Northern Quarter" which does absolutely nothing to enhance its perceived image as a vibrant modern 21st century city by the City Fathers. Perhaps the term "Slum in the City" would be a more apt description.