Enforced sale of Alistair Taylor's home to Blackpool Council contributed to his suicide, coroner rules

The Blackpool Lead was at the three-day inquest looking into the death of the much-loved and respected barber and father Alistair Taylor

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

The death of Alistair Taylor has been covered extensively in The Blackpool Lead and it was our reporting that uncovered Blackpool Council had been accused of ‘insidious tactics’ to force the sale of his home before his death.

He was found dead in October 2024 at the age of 34 with his home one of many set to be purchased by the council to facilitate the construction and development of the much-lauded Multiversity project.

But while a coroner this week ruled that the council did not ‘bully, cajole or intimidate’ Alistair - which was how he felt - he also said Blackpool Council should have taken much greater consideration to the family’s circumstances. Blackpool Council then, did play a role in his decision to end his life.

But the coroner did not file an order to Blackpool Council through a Prevention of Future Deaths report to change its practices, which likely reflects a number of other contributing factors in his death.

His family acknowledge those but believe the process undertaken by Blackpool Council was behind the majority of Alistair’s stress - and they said they hope the council treats families with more consideration in future.

We have reported this difficult, upsetting but important story with regular dialogue and contact with Alistair’s family to ensure we can do so as sensitively as possible.

Blackpool briefing

💷 Vital government cash earmarked for Blackpool urgently needs to go to the most struggling areas of South Shore. That’s the call from Blackpool South MP Chris Webb who said the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation for the resort should be spent immediately on run-down high streets including Waterloo Road, Bond Street and Lytham Road. Now he says he is encouraged by a commitment from Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh to commit to visiting South Shore to see the area for herself – and to get some fish and chips along the way.

🍸 A seafront lap dancing club has applied to Blackpool Council for the renewal of its ‘sexual encounter venue licence’. The application has been lodged with Blackpool Council’s licensing hub by club owner Ashley Sayers and is awaiting a decision after potential objectors had until September 24 to make any comments. Blackpool Council has stated that it is looking to phase out sexual entertainment venues in an effort to make Blackpool more of a family resort – and to support efforts to reduce violence against women.

🏉 A well-established rugby club is out to quash unfounded rumours that it has folded or is on the brink of collapse. Blackpool RUFC, which plays home matches at Mossom Lane, off Fleetwood Road in Norbreck, recently put out a message that it was on the lookout for some extra players and volunteers. But the club’s message has led to some people – even ex-players – to think that the game is up for the club, which has been running for more than six decades.

“This cannot be allowed to happen to another family”: Council approach to house purchase contributed to death of much-loved father

Alistair Taylor: Image shared with The Blackpool Lead by his family

By Jamie Lopez

The enforced sale of a family home by Blackpool Council to facilitate the development of the Multiversity site was a contributing factor in the suicide of a well-known barber and much-loved dad, an inquest has concluded.

A three-day inquest examining the circumstances of Alistair Taylor’s death concluded this factor, along with the difficulties caring for children who have “significantly challenging” behavioural needs, the breakdown of his marriage and exposure to videos by influencer Andrew Tate, all played a “more than minimal role” in the 34-year-old deciding to end his life.

Described by family members as a “comedian” and a caring and thoughtful person who looked out for others and advocated loudly for men’s mental health, Alistair ran a barber shop on Topping Street having previously been relocated from a site on Abingdon Street. He was highly regarded both as a person and a professional, having been voted as Blackpool’s best barber.

In 2022, Alistair was informed that the council intended to purchase and demolish his Milbourne Street home to make way for its Multiversity development which will provide a higher education offering greater than the town currently has.

This presented Alistair’s family with greater challenges than most, given their need for extensive adaptations to make any home safe for the children, two of whom can be violent either towards themselves or property during difficult episodes.

Combined with long delays in the process, a situation was created where Alistair felt unable to secure an adequate replacement property while also believing the family were ineligible for financial support to adapt the current home due its impending demolition. This latter point was regularly referenced as falling under a “five year rule” - effectively meaning no work could be funded at properties which will not be lived in for that period - in discussions with the council but no-one ever pointed out that such a policy does not formally exist and Alistair’s father Paul described him as feeling trapped in a “vicious circle”.

While the sale was formally approved shortly after Alistair’s death, he died believing the process had not been completed and wondering if it ever would. During the first day of evidence, Alistair’s father, brother and estranged wife Donna all stated their belief that the other stressors in the barber’s life were either caused or worsened by the process of the compulsory purchase order (CPO).

The inquest heard that in the months leading to his death, Alistair and wife Donna separated and were no longer living together. Meanwhile, the behavioural challenges associated with two of his sons’ autism conditions had increased and posed greater risks to themselves and other people as well as to property damage.

There was also an increased financial pressure amid the uncertainty of not knowing how much would be needed for a new home which led to Alistair working longer hours at his shop on Topping Street.

Among the issues raised over the course of the inquest, coroner Alan Wilson agreed there should have been a greater priority given to the needs of the family from Blackpool Council.

Pointing to an email sent from Alistair’s wife Donna and correspondence from their legal representative, the coroner said it was clear the council was aware of the extent of the challenges facing the Taylors.

“The family found themselves in a situation which required a different approach,” the coroner said. While noting that Alistair felt he had been “bullied, cajoled and intimidated by the council”, Mr Wilson rejected this was the case. “There was a lack of focus and thought but not ill-feeling,” he said.

Talha Yakub, head of investment at Blackpool Council, oversaw the acquisition process for all of the affected homes and said his team had weekly meetings to discuss how negotiations were ongoing.

Giving evidence, he insisted the family was treated no differently to others. Mr Wilson later said he believed Mr Yakub did not have any great awareness of the family’s situation and concluded that they should have been treated differently and given greater priority and focus. Under questioning, he struggled to even answer why an equality assessment may have been needed during a CPO process, let alone why it would be important for a family with children who have protected characteristics.