What does the potential collapse of Nikal mean for the Blackpool Central project?
PLUS: The impact of the two-child benefit cap in Blackpool, the latest from the 3 August riots and Blackpool's climate strategy
Blackpool Council says it remains committed to the Blackpool Central project amid the potential collapse of the developer leading the works.
But warning alarms sounded this week when Nikal - which was hired to oversee the project - filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators.
It is not yet known how dire the financial situation is and while a £4.3m profit was recorded in the firm's last accounts, various warnings were raised over future challenges. Now, it appears those risks have proven to be true.
The £300m Blackpool Central development is billed as the biggest single investment in the town in more than a century and is planned to involve a “world-class leisure development” which would create 1,000 new jobs, bring an extra 600,000 visitors per year, and boost annual spend in the town by around £75m.
Included in those plans are a new indoor theme park; a ‘flying theatre’ where riders experience wind, fog, vibrations, etc; a bar and restaurant with rollercoaster service and hourly special effects shows, a ‘world first’ multimedia exhibition.
The development is also to include new hotels, a food market, event square and residential apartments as well as a Heritage Quarter and multi-storey parking.
On Nikal’s own website, it describes the development as “one of the UK’s most important regeneration projects.” However, the dedicated Blackpool Central site it directs visitors to features no more than a holding page with a ‘coming soon’ message.
A spokesperson for Blackpool Council told The Blackpool Lead said: “We have been working on the enabling phase of Blackpool Central over the last few years. The new multi-storey car park opened earlier this summer and we are currently completing preparations to demolish the old police station and courts building early in the New Year.
“We had been negotiating with Nikal on how they would deliver the next phases of leisure and accommodation, and will [be] speaking to them to understand how this news affects those plans.
“We still have a clear commitment to deliver Blackpool Central and will be considering our next steps to progress it.”
Cllr Ivan Taylor, who represents Claremont ward, told The Blackpool Lead: "It's a very important development and obviously it's a shame to have this hiccup but it's very much our intention one way or another to proceed with it."
‘Everyday items are so expensive - I struggle’: What the two-child benefit cap means in Blackpool
A 29-year-old mum of five from Blackpool has told of how lifting the two-child benefit cap would 'mean a lot to her'.
Sascha Walkden, who lives in the central area of Blackpool, says the cost of everyday items and heating bills mean she's regularly having to cut back on what her children can do during the week.
She has five children aged 12, 10, nine, eight and three months.
Sascha told The Blackpool Lead: "It's a struggle because everyday items are so expensive these days, especially the electricity bills.
"My youngest is on dairy free milk and the doctor won't prescribe this until he sees a dietician so we are having to pay for each tub - which is about £25 to £30 and they only last a week. We aren't entitled to any help for it.
"We have all had to make changes to help us get by, the children are asking to go to clubs and we can't afford them.
"Lifting the two-child benefit cap would mean a lot and means children can do the extra activity they want to do. And that we won't need to make the changes just so we can afford baby's milk."
The current cap on claiming either child tax credit or universal credit for each child born after a second child is costing the likes of Sacha around £3,200 a year per extra child, according to research by Resolution Foundation think tank.
She still receives child benefit for her children, as this is not restricted based on the number of children you have (although the amount given per child reduces the more children you have).
The numbers behind child poverty in Blackpool
With nearly a third of Blackpool's children are estimated to be living in poverty - the highest level in the North West and the second highest in England.
Of these figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show 5,200 children aged up to 15 are in 'absolute low income families'.
Some wards in the town, such as Bloomfield, Claremont and Brunswick have more than 40 per cent of children living in low-income families.
And more Blackpool families are relying on Universal Credit. Figures in November 2021 showed while the number of households on Universal Credit was reducing, the number of households on Universal Credit with one or more children had increased by nearly 300 in less than six months.
There are 1,487 households with three or more children in Blackpool who are on Universal Credit.
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Blackpool states: "Child poverty rates are highest for children living in workless families (over 70%), however the proportion of children living in poverty despite one or more parents working has been steadily increasing since 2010, and having parents in work is not a guaranteed route out of poverty."
Both Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South and Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North & Fleetwood, support the removal of the limit.
Young man jailed for role in disgraceful August 3 disorder scenes
A 20-year-old has been jailed for the role he played in the disorder in Blackpool on August 3.
Shane Taaffe-Rhodes, from Blackpool, was involved in disorder on the Promenade and later joined in a disturbance at JD Sports in the Houndshill Shopping Centre where the shop was attacked.
He was seen attempting to conceal his identify by putting a face covering over the lower part of his face.
At Preston Crown Court on Friday (18 October), Taaffe-Roberts, of Lindale Gardens, Blackpool, was jailed for 27 months.
He had pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing.
Blackpool Council has unveiled updated plans for Multiversity as a showdown awaits over its compulsory purchase order for the scheme.
Dozens of homes are due to be demolished to make way for the state-of-the-art education centre and campus which will be the new home for Blackpool & The Fylde College in the town centre.
But around 40 per cent of the property owners within the proposed development area around Cookson Street are yet to agree re-settlement terms with the council. A public inquiry will begin during November into the scheme.
The updated planning application for the first stage of the Multiversity schemes shows how the building is due to look.
A supermarket manager from Blackpool has told of how chronic hiccups when she ate were a warning sign for cancer.
Kayla Pennington, aged 37 at the time, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer - rare for someone of that age.
The store manager at Bispham Tesco Express was diagnosed in late 2022.
She found whenever she ate she was getting bouts of hiccups which would only subside when she drank water.
Blackpool Council has been forced to write off almost £1.6m of debt with around half of that due to unpaid business rates.
Companies going bust including guest houses, shops and pubs make up the bulk of the 31 operators which owed almost £868,000 in business rates.
Many of the other debts relate to social care, unpaid council tax and housing benefit payments, with some debts dating back more than 10 years. In many cases the person owing the money has died leaving no estate, while others cannot be traced.
The council only writes off debt after it has pursued all avenues to try and collect it with a report setting out what is owed saying the figures relate to situations “where there is no prospect of recovery or recovery of the debt.”
Action in response to climate change and hotter temperatures is vital to protect people’s health and homes, a councillor has warned.
Coun Jane Hugo, Blackpool council’s cabinet member for climate change, says it is vital the town takes steps now to mitigate for future increases in temperature and rainfall.
Figures show temperatures in Blackpool are already almost one degree (Centigrade) hotter compared to 60 years ago and there have been more hours of sunshine in recent years.
A Climate Adaptation Plan 2024 to 2029 has been agreed by the council’s executive.
Blackpool Council’s finances are ‘on the edge’ the town’s opposition leader has warned after new figures showed reserves have dropped to just £76,000.
Coun Paul Galley, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said: “These figures are the worst I’ve ever seen, the Labour Council is now over spending in almost every area.
“These massive overspends are simply not sustainable putting the very existence of Blackpool Council at risk.”
But council leader Coun Lynne Williams blamed Tory government cuts over the past 14 years for spending woes and said the council was working hard to keep its finances afloat despite massive pressure on services.
Elite Bar and Lounge officially opened on Whitegate Drive in Blackpool last week after a long wait.
The venue will serve a wide selection of drinks, including beers like Madri, Peroni, spirits including whisky, vodka and gin and a wine menu which offers 20 different wines for customers to enjoy.
The bar also serves a wide range of different dishes including calamari, pork ribs, oysters and more.
The Gazette have been for a look.
Halloween in Blackpool looks like it’s going to be thoroughly busy.
SEA LIFE Ascarium, Ridgeway Farm Pumpkin Festival, Halloween Tails at Peter Rabbit Explore and Play, a MONSTER HUNT and lots more.
Have a look round what you can get up to here.
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We hope you have a lovely weekend.
Luke & Ed.