Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead. Today’s edition is something a little bit different, brought about as I enjoy my first week off of the year so far.
It has been a privilege to edit and write The Blackpool Lead, which has been serving you in-depth, investigative journalism for almost three years at this point. I’ve been reporting on Blackpool for almost a decade and the feedback has been fantastic. It’s no secret we have rattled some cages during that time, but the best journalism does exactly that.
Alongside our fellow The Lead North titles, we’ve also seen recognition with a Press Gazette Future of Media Award and nominations elsewhere. It’s no surprise that in this time the big-money media publishers have started to put some of their work behind a paywall too.
It’s a strange time for news in Blackpool. Social media activity is incredibly high but it frequently descends into inaccuracy, agendas and abuse - we filter through all of that to bring you what you actually need to know, written by qualified and experienced reporters who care about the place.
Like all genuinely independent titles, we’re also happy to give praise when it’s deserved and criticism when it is needed - regardless of who the recipient is.
One accusation thrown our way whenever we report on either Reform or the Conservatives is that we are funded by the Labour Party. It’s just not true - we are funded by readers. And our Labour-run local authority is as wary about what we might publish as anyone with a blue rosette of any shade.
Take, for example, our recent piece about how Blackpool Council has used AI to design the Illuminations this year. We pointed our investigative crosshairs firmly at the council for that piece - and rightly so. It would be an important thing to cover even if the town wasn’t vying to be the City of Culture in 2029. People, as ever, can make up their own mind as to whether they believe it is problematic - but it’s something they should know about. The same should be said of our coverage of the ‘stealth charge’ ahead of the Switch-On.
In the lead up to the most recent Blackpool Council by-election in Claremont, we delivered the most comprehensive coverage of any news title. More than The Gazette, more than the BBC. You can see what we did with just one of our pieces here. And we did it all that with a considerably smaller budget than those around us.
And whether by auditors or the national press, there is a lot of nonsense published about Blackpool. We’ll take swings at the council where necessary, but when GB News starts calling Blackpool ‘WOKE’ because it is banning vertical drinking - even though it absolutely is not - it’s us who will tell you what’s actually happening.
The reality is that we need to keep growing to ensure this financial model - which takes away a reliance on clickbait and adverts which block most of the screen - can be sustainable long-term. If you appreciate the work we’re doing, please consider backing us financially at the cost of less than a fiver a month.
I’m also keen to hear from you so if there’s something you’d like to see highlighted or examined, please get in touch at blackpool@thelead.uk
For those who do already take a paid subscription, your support is, as always, hugely appreciated. While there is no main article, read on for an extended briefing and I hope you have a fantastic week.
Blackpool briefing
🏥Blackpool Victoria Hospital chief executive Maggie Oldham has gone on sick leave.
She has been replaced on an interim basis by Richard Beeken, who had been working with the hospital in an advisory role.
Chairman James Wilkie said: “His appointment means we will be well-placed to build on the improvement work taking place across the trust and to make sure that patient safety and quality of care remain at the heart of everything we do as we approach winter, one of our busiest periods.
“I know my colleagues at the trust will join me in welcoming Richard and offering our best wishes to Maggie.”
Writing on LinkedIn, Beeken said: “The organisation has many challenges, but a dedicated leadership team and loyal, local staff who want the best services for them and their families.”
His CV includes spells as chief operating officer at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and CEO at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
Beeken will be at the Vic, in Whinney Heys Road, until the end of March.
🏠 Blackpool is the third most affordable location in Britain for home buyers, according to Lloyds and based on average house price-to-earnings ratios.
The average house in the resort costs £141,550 - 3.6 times the average earnings.
That is behind only Inverclyde (£146,030, 3.5) and Aberdeen (£147,851, 3.5) in Scotland and Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber (£134,642, 3.6) in England.
Andrew Asaam, a mortgages director at Lloyds, said: “For first-time buyers in particular, a small shift in location could make a big difference, not just in getting on the ladder, but in what kind of property is within reach.
“Many parts of Scotland and northern England continue to offer some of the best value relative to local earnings.
“For buyers with flexibility over where they live, that can make a meaningful difference to what they can afford.”
🗳️Reform has reacted to its by-election defeat in the Blackpool ward of Claremont by saying “this was never about one night”.
In a statement posted to defeated candidate Mark Butcher’s social media on Friday, the party’s Blackpool South branch said: “It’s about May, when we can win this council, and then the parliamentary seat.
“The direction of travel is clear and we’re only getting started.”
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb, who has twice beaten Butcher in parliamentary races, congratulated Claremont’s new councillor Katie Donnelli-Hunn.
He said of his Labour colleague: “Blackpool’s voters have now delivered the same message four times - they want people who believe in our town, not those who repeatedly run it down.”
HI
STAFF
I am a new subscriber to this website
I have a Q for all Govt party members
from M.P.-Minister down to Cllr -Mayor -M.P.
Q--HOW LONG will it be before terrorist boat people land on Blackpool beaches Tory-Labour
Lib-Dem party are letting into the U.K. now to allow them to take over our country
please reply with constructive reply not rubbish or calling me a resist
all I wish is to protect my country that is being invaded now