Character, cost and claims: Inside the battle between the council and Blackpool Pier Company

The Blackpool Lead was at the appeal against Blackpool Council's decision to reject two rides at South Pier

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

It was reported [not by The Blackpool Lead] earlier this week that a public hearing that would hear arguments from both Blackpool Council and Blackpool Pier Company would last one day and be heard at Blackpool Town Hall.

Readers: it lasted three days and was heard in Layton.

Fortunately, Jamie Lopez was in attendance. As often transpires, our journalist was the only one there.

The battle for South Pier is an interesting one. North Pier has now been sold, and the bill for carrying out rolling repairs on the Victorian structures is only going in one direction.

Blackpool Pier Company says the rides would allow them to better fund repairs. The council says they aren’t spending the amount that is quoted on repairs in the first place.

That hearing is the topic of today’s newsletter, but first we dedicate the full briefing on the newsletter to the passing of Cllr Ivan Taylor.

Blackpool briefing

🗳️ Blackpool Council is mourning the death of a councillor who served continually from 1973 until 2026 and was the longest serving in the country at the time of his death.

Ivan Taylor, who was ward councillor for Claremont, was first elected in 1966 and served as council leader from 1991 until 2000.

He led on the building of the town’s first ever publicly run leisure centre at Blackpool Sports Centre. Now, Blackpool Council runs three leisure centres, as well as a sports village, supporting more than 7,000 local people with access to affordable exercise, sport and health related benefits.

Ivan also led on the roll out of valuable Sure Start children’s centres across the town, which still support thousands of families in their new role as Family Hubs.

Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Blackpool has lost one of its greatest champions.

“Councillor Ivan Taylor devoted his life to the town he loved, serving the people of Blackpool with unwavering commitment for longer than any other councillor in the United Kingdom. His record of public service is extraordinary, but those of us who knew Ivan will remember far more than the years he served.

“I had the privilege of serving alongside Ivan as a ward councillor for Claremont. Working with him was an education in what public service should be. He was so proud to represent Claremont and never took for granted the honour of representing our residents. He loved meeting residents, hearing their stories and doing everything he could to help.

“I was incredibly fortunate to call him not just a colleague but a friend. He was generous with his time, wise in his advice and unwavering in his principles. His support, kindness and humour meant a great deal to me, and I know so many others feel exactly the same. The loss I feel is not only for an outstanding public servant, but for someone I treasured personally.

“Politics was never about status or recognition for Ivan; he never forgot that politics was about improving lives, standing up for those without a voice, and ensuring everyone was treated with dignity and fairness.

“Ivan was a proud socialist whose values never wavered. He believed passionately in equality, opportunity and social justice, and those beliefs guided every decision he made. When he was Leader of the Council, he helped secure Blackpool’s future by leading the move to become a unitary authority, giving our town the power to make the right decisions for itself. He also fought tirelessly to keep our council housing, buses and trams in public ownership because he believed they belonged to the people of Blackpool and locally owned transport is foundational to a fair and connected community.

“Ivan’s passing leaves an enormous void. Blackpool has lost a giant of local government, and we have lost a dear friend, a mentor, and someone who was deeply loved and respected. His dedication, compassion and love for our town will never be forgotten.

“Rest in peace, Ivan. Thank you for everything you gave to Blackpool and its people. We will miss you more than words can say.”

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Character, cost and claims: Inside the battle between the council and Blackpool Pier Company

Blackpool South Pier

By Jamie Lopez

A decision on whether to allow the company responsible for two of Blackpool’s piers to build new rides will be handed down later this summer.

Over three days this week, a government planning inspector oversaw an appeal against Blackpool Council’s decision to reject planning permission - and then an alternative of a certificate of proposed lawfulness - for a log flume and star flyer which would sit next to South Pier.

Had planning permission been granted, Blackpool Pier Company would have installed and operated the rides between April and October each year but the council concluded the plans would harm the character and appearance of the area; constitute piecemeal development; harm the heritage assets of the pier and Blackpool Tower; and go against the council’s own development plan for the Promenade.

An appeal was lodged against the decision and led to this week’s public hearing which was overseen by chartered town planner Paul Freer and concluded with a site visit.

Among the arguments which had been presented in favour of allowing the application were the need to bring in extra money for maintenance of the historic structures. Appearing as a witness for Blackpool Pier Company, chartered engineer Chris Pratt warned the piers are currently deteriorating faster than they are being maintained.

Mr Pratt explained his company, Westlakes Engineering, has been tasked by the pier owners with reviewing safety of the structure since 2021. According to his estimates, expenditure of at least an average of £530,000 is needed each year across the next decade just to maintain the current condition.

“The rate of deterioration is outstripping the rate of repair, it has been for a long time. Therefore if you don’t turn this around the incidences and individual problems will increase and the pier will no longer be safe. I can’t say when that will be but you will reach that point.”