Building-sized hand-painted adverts could provide Blackpool a Victorian cure for ugly buildings
PLUS: Anti-social hotspots of Blackpool revealed in new report
Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.
Today we look a bit deeper at the reported plans for old-school advertising murals to return to Blackpool.
Towns across the UK show the faded signs of this work - often referred to as ‘ghost signs’ - and they are often viewed as a sign of an area’s joint history.
There’s a beauty to them - which is especially true when they’re still fresh - that can’t be replicated by digital advertising boards. The support for the plans is near unanimous as a result.
We also look at council plans to tackle anti-social behaviour after a report showed Blackpool’s hotspots.
‘Beautiful’ hand-painted adverts filling a wall could become cure for unsightly buildings
By Michael Holmes
A prominent Blackpool seafront building could soon be home to a huge, old-school advertising mural painted by world-famous graffiti artists.
Nomad Clan, whose artistic tribute to the Fylde coast’s past as a fishing hub was painted on to the outside of the Townsman pub in the resort in 2016, are set to be asked to cover an “unsightly” gable wall overlooking a Promenade car park between Central and South Pier.
It is part of a bid by Urban Art Media to hand paint commercial adverts on to the brick façade, as was common in the early and mid-20th century, rather than use printed or digital technology.
“These adverts would often fill an entire side of a building, maximising visibility,” the firm said.
“These often beautiful adverts were later covered over with purpose-made advertising boardings which would host papered adverts, many of which are still in existence and many being replaced with LED screens.”
Of its plans for 427 Promenade, which houses a chippy and is between Britannia Place and Commercial Street, near The Dutton Arms pub, the company said: “It is proposed to provide high quality hand-painted advertisements displaying adverts for goods/services not associated with the host building, much like the adverts of the early-mid 20th century.
“These adverts will be on a rolling basis, each time being overpainted with a new advert painted in its place by Nomad Clan.”
Nomad Clan said it was not aware of the plans but said “this isn’t out of the ordinary. Quite often, people will use our work to get projects and then contact us once funding is secured. It’s kind of common practice, weirdly”.
While Blackpool has been blighted in recent years by illegal graffiti, with the word Kaned – which looks like <ane> - among those tagged throughout the town on railway bridges, street signs and more, it has also become known for its colourful murals.
The town has hosted a number of Sand, Sea and Spray urban art events, which saw bright images appear all over the resort thanks to artists from around Europe, including Nomad Clan, a collective of Cbloxx and Aylo, a duo with bases in Los Angeles and Manchester.
Prominent examples include a magician painted on to a gable wall in Cookson Street and a girl sprayed on to an outside wall at Nando’s in the town centre.
A 1930s tram on Ocean Boulevard had a female face depicted in a classic art nouveau style, while a French artist created her artwork on Corporation Street, opposite the Grand Theatre.
Robin Ross, who was behind the yearly art events, said the response to the artwork has been “amazing”, adding: “I was the first to bring Nomad Clan to Blackpool.
“This (proposed) project’s not really street art as it is commercially viable but again I’m sure the Nomad Clan will do a great job.”
Town hall planners must give Urban Art Media planning permission for the commercial street art to be allowed.
It would be nine metres tall and almost 17 metres wide, documents reveal.
“The applicants will arrange access to the gable wall with the owners of the car park,” papers add.
“The current state of the gable wall is unsightly... It is proposed to improve the visual amenity of the site with the new advertisement artwork.”
The Blackpool Lead asked the two councillors representing Bloomfield ward, in which the site sits, Labour’s Mel Fenlon and Jim Hobson, if they are in support of the scheme.
Cllr Hobson said: “I’m a big fan of art on gable ends; there are lots of examples of it around that really look amazing. And in fact I was personally involved in getting the Jimmy Armfield mural on the Armfield Club through the planning process a few years ago.
“I think the examples and mock-up images used in the planning application look great. However, unless I’ve missed something, we can’t see what the proposed advert/image will be. I suspect the planning department will be unhappy approving an application without seeing what the images will look like and I would have the same concern.
“So, I guess the painting could improve the area but until I actually see what it actually looks like (and what it is advertising), I would have to reserve my judgement.”
Planning documents do not say which products or companies the mural, which would be regularly repainted, could advertise, though example images show adverts for Coca Cola and Sunlight Soap.
Conservative councillor Paul Galley, leader of the opposition at the town hall, said: “I’m a big fan of urban art and fully support efforts to transform our public spaces from dull, grey landscapes into vibrant, inspiring places.
“Our streets should not only be practical but also feel welcoming and alive.”
He continued: “Blackpool is already home to some fantastic murals, with the latest one on the corner of Springfield Road and High Street adding real character.
“The idea of Victoriana-style adverts being used as part of art is a great one. Our streets used to be full of energy and personality, so why not bring that spirit back today?
“If we get this right, there’s no reason why Blackpool’s murals couldn’t become part of a walking tour for both residents and visitors.
“Imagine people exploring the town, ticking off each piece of artwork and stopping by a nearby cafe along the way as part of that experience.
“It’s a great way to support some of Blackpool’s hidden gem cafes - often in quieter areas - while also celebrating our urban creativity and heritage.”
Robin Ross, who was behind the Sand, Sea and Spray events, said it is “such a shame that the project I start from nothing has had to be suspended and that there is not a lot of vision in the town, given that the event attracted up to 30,000 visitors to the town”.
He said: “Just imagine if each person bought a tea or coffee; that’s a great injection into the Blackpool economy.
“There is still some hope, with Tea Amantes (in Albert Road) and Hive (in Church Street) showing art and, of course, The Grundy open showcasing local artists which each year gets bigger and better.”
Attempts to contact Urban Art Media, which is, according to planning papers, based at the Dalmeny Hotel in St Annes, were unsuccessful.
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Council seeks stronger powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in hotspots
By Shelagh Parkinson
A new report has revealed trouble hotspots in Blackpool and shows more than 40 per cent of anti-social behaviour happens in just three areas of the town.
The findings from the Community Safety Partnership year end performance report also warn youths climbing on rooftops is increasingly a problem with council chiefs now seeking stronger powers to tackle the issue.
Domestic violence is the most common incident reported to the council, while begging, drug use and incidents in public areas also account for high numbers of calls.
Other complaints to the council include 94 involving neighbour disputes, but there have also been 12 complaints about football in the streets, and nine complaints about bird feeding.
When it comes to incidents reported to the police, Talbot, Bloomfield and Claremont wards emerge as the three worst areas of the town – accounting for just over 42 per cent of anti-social behaviour.
Data collected between March 2024 and February 2025 shows 1,121 incidents in Talbot ward including 95 on Church Street and 84 on Bank Hey Street, which are two of the busiest parts of the town centre. Repeat locations are:
Costa Coffee, Church Street (10 incidents)
Marks and Spencer, Church Street (nine)
McDonalds, Bank Hey Street (51).
There were 987 incidents in Bloomfield ward where repeat locations are:
Tesco Express, Lytham Road (13 incidents)
Ma Kelly’s, Lytham Road (nine)
Claremont chalked up 968 incidents, with nearly 10 per cent of these on Dickson Road where there is a cluster of licensed premises. Repeat locations are:
Ma Kelly’s Town Centre (36 incidents)
Blackpool North Station (33 incidents)
Trilogy Nightclub (21 incidents)
Garlands (14 incidents)
The report says the Community Safety Partnership has a working group which focuses on “preventing and deterring emerging ASB” which works with the police to identify offenders including “the town’s aggressive beggars and rough sleepers causing a nuisance.”
It adds: “The town centre of Blackpool is currently experiencing high levels of ASB committed by individuals who are begging and street drinking. We are currently targeting the top 10 prolific beggars and street drinkers, seeking community behaviour orders for each individual.”
Stronger powers such as civil injunctions are also being sought by the council to deter urban explorers and youths from climbing on empty buildings, such as the former Post Office on Abingdon Street.
The report warns: “A concerning threat emerging in Blackpool is young people climbing up onto roofs of high buildings and urban exploring in abandoned buildings also known as ‘Bando’s’.
“It is not an easy task to safeguard against and is a significant challenge given the amount of empty properties in and around Blackpool.
“Public Protection is looking at applying for Civil Injunctions for buildings of concern such as the old post office and Bonny Street courts in an
attempt to dissuade youths from climbing up onto them.”
The report is due to be presented to a meeting of the council’s Climate Change and Environment Scrutiny Committee on March 20.
Thank you for reading The Blackpool Lead this week. We will be back with you again on Wednesday and hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
The best things to do in Blackpool from 17 March...
The first ever Vintage Clothes Fair will come to Abingdon Street Market on Sunday, 23 March.
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