Councillors in Blackpool increasingly fear physical attacks and violent threats as politics turns nastier

The challenges of being an elected official - and the impact on residents

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

As politics turns nastier, more disingenuous and more divided, councillors in Blackpool increasingly fear for their and their families’ safety.

That’s what today’s report focuses on. Councillors have told us about physical attacks and delivered threats that have become all too regular for someone who chooses to participate in public life in the way that they have.

All of which is important because it leaves those councillors with a decision to make regarding how accessible they are to residents.

Blackpool briefing

🚋 Blackpool Council has announced it will direct money to from the government’s Pride in Place fund to reopen Tramtown museum. The visitor museum had closed temporarily due to an electrical fault, however Blackpool Council will use funds from the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact fund to fix the electrics so the building can open again. The work will begin this week so the museum can reopen early next month, ahead of the summer season. Cllr Paul Galley, leader of the Conservative opposition at Blackpool Council, said it was ‘great news’ and praised the cross-party work that went into the move, particularly from Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South.

🩺 Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s performance in terms of 12-hour waits is currently the worst in the country, according to a latest report. The report to this week’s meeting of the Blackpool Council’s Adult Social Care and Scrutiny Committee details the current performance metrics of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Trust which runs the hospital. It says the Trust is facing some real challenges, some of which are hampering its performance. They include delays in community and mental health provision and workforce gaps, exacerbated by winter pressures which are affecting all hospitals at present. It also highlights diagnostic capacity limitations in diagnosing and treating illnesses.

🏠 Proposals to use six individual flats in Blackpool as six self-contained flats with limited housing support have been given the go ahead. Applicants My Space Housing Solutions submitted the plans for the property, at 2 Warbreck Drive, to planners at Blackpool Council. The application was for a Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development (“CLPUD”), with the applicants arguing that because the proposals would nor entail a change of use class, there would be no requirement to apply for planning permission. Each flat is self-contained with its own front door and postal address.

Councillors in Blackpool increasing fear physical attacks and violent threats as politics turns nastier

Town Hall in Blackpool.

By Michael Holmes

Blackpool councillors are going into hiding, with three-quarters now keeping their home addresses secret from the public following physical attacks and violent threats.

One veteran councillor has been left so afraid after being beaten in public that they asked not to be named - and said they felt forced into removing their address from their council website profile page, leaving only their mobile number and local authority email address, in an effort to stay safe.

Another, Julie Sloman, who represents Norbreck, asked for her address to be removed after someone hand-delivered a postcard to her home calling her a “fucking bitch” and a “Conservative cunt” and telling her to watch her back.

Even the council leader Lynn Williams has been forced to take measures to protect herself and her family after a “couple of issues”.

“It is a sad indictment of society today which requires such measures to be implemented to protect people in public service,” said the senior councillor who asked not to be identified.