Dry weather not enough to prevent sewage discharges in Blackpool sea
PLUS: Eight years of the Anchorsholme sea wall compound angst set to be endured
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of The Blackpool Lead,
We’ve had lots of you contact us about the news this week about uncertainty over the future of the Backlot cinema, after Sean Greaves at The Gazette broke how it looks set to change hands just over a year since opening. We are asking some questions on this and will bring you a full report in future editions - especially as we understand the current operator has something to say about what’s taken place.
In the meantime, for those interested in cinema the story from Antonia last year when Backlot opened about the fall and rise of Blackpool as a cinema town is well worth a revisit.
In today’s edition, there’s the latest on the Anchorsholme sea wall - which for those with good memories will recall we covered back in December when Michael went to visit Dianne and Frank who had been looking forward to a lovely retirement which is now set to be spent staring at a giant blue wall.
And our main story - only in full for paid subscribers - looks at how United Utilities spent 90 minutes pumping human waste into the Irish Sea at Blackpool during the recent heatwave.
Controversial works compound at Anchorsholme could be in place for eight years
By Richard Hunt
A works compound set to be sited in front of seaside homes could be there for eight years, it is feared.
The construction compound will serve the ongoing coastal defence work currently being undertaken at Anchorsholme by contractor Balfour Beatty and is to be sited on the seafront, just south of Little Bispham tram station.
It will also be directly in front of residents from the Wilvere Court apartments and those living nearby.
Residents who campaigned against the compound had a chance this week to see some designs intended to lessen the visual impact.
Designs were on show at a two-day consultation event at Anchorsholme Park.
The scenic murals impressed some of those who attended, including Norbreck councillor Julie Sloman, who felt the designs would enhance the unsightly blue fencing of the compound.
But she said residents were less happy when they heard the compound is likely to be a longer term amenity.
Coun Sloman, who has supported residents in their unsuccessful campaign to have the compound sited in possible alternative locations, said the duration of the construction compound was a concern.
She said: “Residents were asking questions and one man was told it was likely that the compound would be there for up to eight years.
“People would be happy to put up with the decorative mural fencing for a couple of years but eight is a long time – to long to put uo with that.
“There are plans by Balfour Beatty to continue with the coastal protection work along the beaches, right up to Gynn Square.
“It will not be a quick thing and that has always been my concern.
“The designs for the fencing would be an improvement but not for eight years.”
Blackpool’s sewage network overwhelmed despite region being on brink of heatwave conditions
By Michael Holmes
Sewage has again been pumped into the sea off Blackpool by United Utilities after the town's sewage network was apparently overwhelmed despite the recent hot and dry weather, it can be revealed.
The water firm spent 90 minutes sending human waste into the Irish Sea off the town’s coast on July 15, while sewage was also released untreated on June 10 and several times four days later.
It came after a five-month gap since the last discharge - though visitors to the resort’s beach opposite the Tower continue to be warned against swimming in the sea.
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