'Cruel' and 'inhumane' system behind forced purchase of Alistair Taylor's house slammed

The inquest has drawn a conclusion about the council's role in Alistair Taylor's death - but the battle to ensure it doesn't happen again is only just starting

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

An inquest has returned its findings into how and why Alistair Taylor came to the decision to take his own life - and Blackpool Council played a role in it.

For his family, it is not the end of their efforts to make sure local authorities do not put that level of stress onto families in future.

Blackpool Council said the situation was ‘desperately sad’ but stopped short of apologising for its role in his death. It’s worth noting the coroner said that a number of other factors played a part in his decision - but his family believe those other factors are directly linked to the council’s enforced purchase of his home.

Cllr Paul Galley, leader of the Conservatives at Blackpool Council, said the process had been cruel and inhumane. Today we explore what happens next.

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Blackpool briefing

🚔 Police have launched an investigation after a man in his 30s was attacked by at least three people and suffered a number of stab wounds. The incident happened at the junction of Stan Mortensen Avenue and Princess Street in Blackpool at around midnight on Tuesday. Police are appealing for information. The victim is in hospital in a serious condition and no arrests have been made at the time of writing.

🛎️ A prominent 90-bed Blackpool hotel in Talbot Square is set to be given an extensive internal renovation, if plans are given the go ahead. Forshaw’s Hotel, whose ground floor is a retail area which includes the Turtle Bay restaurant and an adjoining Starbucks coffee house, would have its upper storeys refurbished. For many years the Grade II premises operated as The Clifton Hotel, on the corner of Talbot Road and the Promenade, before being rebranded as a Travelodge in the mid 2000s. An application has been lodged with Blackpool Council planners for planning consent to carry out internal refurbishment involving cosmetic upgrades, demolition of selected internal walls within the basement, ground floor and first floor, two new staircases within the basement and ground floor and refit of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing system using existing service routes.

🔇 Blackpool will pay its respects at the annual Remembrance Sunday Service on Sunday 9 November, held at the war memorial on the Promenade. The service will begin at 10.55am, featuring the two minutes’ silence, a service of remembrance, and a wreath-laying ceremony in memory of those who gave their lives in service of their country, followed by a short parade at approximately 11.45am.

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‘Where is the apology?’ Opposition slams Blackpool Council’s response to findings from inquest into Alistair Taylor’s death

A family-released image of Alistair Taylor

By Luke Beardsworth

Blackpool Council needs to take greater ‘accountability’ for its role in the death of a father-of-four.

That’s the conclusion of Blackpool Council’s own Conservative leader of the opposition, Cllr Paul Galley, who slammed the authority for its reluctance to issue an apology to Alistair Taylor’s family.

An inquest earlier this month found that the enforced sale of Alistair’s home, to facilitate the development of the Multiversity site, was a contributing factor in the 34-year-old’s decision to end his life.

It was the presence of other challenges in his life, which included difficulties caring for his children who have ‘significantly challenging’ behaviour needs, the breakdown of his marriage to his wife Donna and exposure to videos by Andrew Tate which ultimately stopped the blame from falling solely at the feet of Blackpool Council.

Blackpool Council told Alistair of its intention to purchase and demolish his Milbourne Street home in 2022. His family home required extensive adaptations to make it safe for his children - two of whom can be violent either towards themselves or property during difficult episodes.

When Alistair died in October 2024, it was with the belief that the situation had not been resolved. The coroner at an inquest into his death rejected that he had been bullied or cajoled by Blackpool Council - despite Alistair undoubtedly feeling that way - but said that the authority failed to adapt its approach for his family’s specific needs.

Talha Yakub, head of investment at Blackpool Council, insisted the family was treated no differently to others. It was intended as a defence of the council’s approach but served to highlight where it had fallen short.

Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Labour-run Blackpool Council, said in response to the findings of the inquest: “This is a desperately sad situation. Our thoughts and condolences are with all of Mr Taylor’s family.

“We will carefully review the coroner’s findings to understand what learnings we could take on into any future works.”

But Cllr Galley insists that this does not go far enough.

He told The Blackpool Lead: “A young father-of-four lost his life after being subjected to a process that the coroner found had more than minimally contributed to his declining mental health and ultimate suicide.

“For the council to describe this as merely a situation that is ‘desperately sad’ and to offer only to ‘carefully review’ the findings is simply not good enough. Where is the accountability? Where is the apology to the Taylor family?