‘There is no place for racism in Blackpool’
Blackpool Council's leader calls for the town to remain a place of unity after the protest at the weekend
Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.
Strong words today from Blackpool Council’s leader as she condemns the divisive rhetoric seen in Blackpool at the weekend - which included calls for Donald Trump to invade the UK.
It, unsurprisingly, began at the Metropole were a majority of asylum seekers who did not arrive via boat wait months for a decision on whether their claim will be accepted.
There were no arrests, though there were some minor confrontations.
The council leader has called for Blackpool to remain a place of hope, not hate, in the wake of the protests and said the protests do not represent the town.
But there will be a number of people who were supportive and enthusiastic about what took place and what was said. And it’s important to point out where what was said falls over under the slightest bit of scrutiny.
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Blackpool briefing
🍸 A Blackpool bar’s bid for a variation of its premises licence has been refused after police raised concerns. Members of Blackpool Council’s Licensing Panel needed to consider a proposed variation of the designated premises supervisor (DPS) for the venue known as Pinkies, at 14 Dickson Road. Councillors needed to consider whether the granting of this licence would adversely impact on the crime prevention objective. Lancashire Police had raised concerns that the designated supervisor would not be in the best position to take on that role because he was already supervising two other bars.
🚗 Blackpool could have another garage which carries out MOT repairs, if plans get the go ahead. An application has been submitted to planners at Blackpool Council for use of premises for MOT and motor car repairs, from premises at 188 Lytham Road in South Shore. Planning documents on behalf of the applicant, listed as Mr L Richards, state that the premises are already being used for motor repairs. Despite this, a planning application is still needed as the enterprise, though not a classified change of use, is likely to require certain changes at the property.
🐚 A new non-profit company has been set up with the aims of developing the former Fleetwood Pier site into a vibrant attraction and reviving the town itself. Fleetwood People’s Pier CIC is the brainchild of ex-world champion boxer Jane Couch and George Greenall, who has led community projects in the past. They have joined forces with Fleetwood business folk Jill Wilson, Fiona Bradford and Darren and Deb Greenwood who become the directors of the new community interest company. Fleetwood Pier burned down in 2008 and, after demolition and site clearance, there has been nothing there since, although an empty plot in front of the beach still holds potential. But the CIC team believe there is a golden opportunity to revive this part of the seafront, via a long term coordinated plan.
‘There is no place for racism in Blackpool’
By Luke Beardsworth
Those who took part in an anti-immigration march in Blackpool at the weekend were not reflective of the people who live, work and visit the town.
That is the verdict of the leader of Blackpool Council who was speaking after hundreds marched through the town at the weekend.
Police confirmed there had been nobody arrested during the protest which had been subject to a serious level of planning from the force.
Blackpool Council’s leader vowed to ‘call out’ racism wherever she sees it and said that Blackpool should be a place of hope, not hate.
Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “We are a town of hope not hate and there is no place for racism in Blackpool. Racism is abhorrent and we will call it out whenever we see it.
“The protestors at the weekend are not reflective of the many more people who live here, love where they live and love their neighbours.
“Blackpool is a place built on welcoming visitors and one where many people have come to make a life for themselves and their families for generations.
“I love how we’re a mixture of all different identities – it makes our culture stronger. We will all have friends who have moved here over the decades, from every corner of this nation and from around the world.
“Everybody in Blackpool should feel safe, regardless of ethnicity, religion or sexuality and we will continue to work with our community to make sure that the voices of togetherness outweigh the voices of hate.”
The Metropole Hotel has been the site of a number of anti-immigration protests over the last several years.
Its prominent site on the seafront, which has broad consensus as not being appropriate as a place to house asylum seekers, has made it a popular target for both people from Blackpool and larger congregations from afar.
One email sent to The Blackpool Lead after our coverage of the protests at the weekend read: “It’s NOT about the colour of people’s skin, it’s about illegal immigrants.”
The Blackpool Lead understands the majority of people in The Metropole are families who did not arrive in the UK via boat. Their claims are being processed - albeit often slowly - under UK asylum laws.
Under the No Filter Britain banner at the weekend, protestors marched through the streets to chant slogans such as ‘stop the boats, ‘Keir Starmer is a wanker’ and ‘save our nation, remigration’.
