Pleasure Beach under fire after removing free passes for carers

The move was taken after season passes for 2026 had already been purchased - leaving carers needing to shell out extra to make use of them

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

Parents have been getting in touch with us this year to express their concern over the removal of free carer access to Pleasure Beach Resort.

They are particularly frustrated that many of them had purchased their season passes for 2026 before later being informed that there would be additional cost from March.

But it’s also concerning for carers more generally who may now think twice before visiting the Pleasure Beach.

We’ve spoken to a number of people involved in that decision - and an affected mother from Blackpool - for today’s edition.

Blackpool briefing

🏠 Angry residents in Blackpool’s Revoe area did not hold back on Thursday after being given the chance to have their say about controversial plans to demolish homes. Blackpool Council invited residents, stakeholders and businesses to take part in a new consultation on the proposed Central Housing Regeneration Area Framework focusing on the Revoe area. The council is looking to bulldoze around 300 homes on several streets off Central Drive and replace them with modern housing. Leading councillors argue that the project will improve residents’ lives by replacing poor quality housing in one of the most deprived wards in England. The meeting will be led by Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council and Cllr Jim Hobson, Bloomfield ward councillor. But at the meeting in the Ibbison Court Community Centre, they were confronted by both home owners and people living in rented accommodation who do not want the scheme. At one point in the meeting, one resident staged an on-the-spot poll asking for a show of hands of people in the room who opposed the project and wanted to keep their homes. The response was overwhelming as hands went up in the air. One woman asked: “We’re picking up the bill. It’s in your favour. How will it benefit residents now?” Cllr Hobson said: “It doesn’t. I’m doing this for the future of the children.”

🎨 An empty former charity shop premises in Blackpool town centre which was beginning to look run down is to be given a shopfront revamp. An application was submitted to Blackpool Council for the former LGBT Charity UK store at 100-102 Talbot Road has now been approved. The property has been empy for the past two years. The proposals were for the installation of a new shop front and the provision of a separate entrance to its existing upper floor flat. Although similar to Blackpool’s Quality Corridors project, a town centre upgrade scheme which is primarily funded by a £7 million government grant through the Lancashire enterprise partnership’s Growth Deal and additional funds from Blackpool Council, this scheme is not part of that enterprise.

🏗️ Councillors at Blackpool approved a number of changes to the town’s ambitious Multiversity scheme which effectively saved £450k towards its cost. The Blackpool Multiversity project, a new £65 million, five-storey higher education campus earmarked for the town centre on Cookson Street, was originally given planning permission in Spring 2024. But members of Blackpool Council’s Planning Committee needed to consider a resubmission of that original ‘reserved matters’ or detailed application, to substitute approved plans and update a number of associated technical submissions. These revisions included repositioning of the building by 2m to the south to avoid cables, alterations to the footprint of the building, reduction in roof height at the eastern end façade and changes in the finished floor levels. There would also be landscaping amendments and changes to the external surface of the building.

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Pleasure Beach under fire after removing free passes for carers

Hayley with son Harrison at Ingleton

By Luke Beardsworth

Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool has come under fire for its decision to remove free passes for carers of people with disabilities.

The theme park said it is making the change to bring it in line with the ‘wider attractions industry’ - despite both Drayton Manor Theme Park and Alton Towers continuing to offer free Essential Companion tickets.

Previously, ‘Essential Carers’ could claim free entry if they could demonstrate eligibility through the Access Card which costs around £15.

A spokesperson for Pleasure Beach Resort said they had work with Nimbus Disability, an organisation that provides advice to professional organisations, in implementing the change. But Nimbus Disability told The Blackpool Lead the decision was Pleasure Beach Resort’s alone to make.

But now there will be a £25 per visit cost which Pleasure Beach Resort said is less than half the price of one full price ticket. However, during March, general access tickets can be bought in advance for £30.

The Blackpool Lead understands both Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South, and Aiming Higher, a Fylde Coast charity which works to improve the lives of children with disabilities and special education needs, will be speaking with the Pleasure Beach about the changes.

Hayley Gray, 38, lives with her husband Luis, 29, and her three boys in Bispham. Her youngest child, Harrison, has special needs.

She purchased a season pass for Harrison on 30 January on the understanding that she’d be able to accompany as his Essential Companion across the year.

She told The Blackpool Lead: “I thought that I’d try to treat Harrison and get him into more activities and make it more inclusive for him.

“He struggles to make friends, he struggles to go to any big events and I’m trying to introduce him slowly.”

Hayley and Harrison visited the Pleasure Beach a number of times in February, having to email the theme park each time to arrange Hayley’s then-free access.

They were due to visit on 7 March and so, in February, Hayley emailed Pleasure Beach Resort as she had before to arrange access. She was asked to email back on 1 March.

On 2 March, Pleasure Beach Resort responded to say that Essential Companions either had to pay £25 per visit or could purchase a season pass themselves.

Hayley said: “My point was that I wouldn’t have bought one for Harrison if I knew this change was going to happen. They should’ve told us this at the beginning of the year, but they haven’t done.”

Pleasure Beach Resort said in an email to Hayley that they are not offering refunds. She has reported the issue with trading standards.