Blackpool MPs Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden have met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to lobby him further on regeneration investments in Blackpool – and won his support for their proposal to link three new initiatives that could see the town as a cutting edge national centre for creative industries, leisure and performing arts.

At the meeting, which followed Joan Humble’s request to the Prime Minister at Question Time last week, Mr. Brown welcomed the idea of bringing together the Tower Headland initiative from the People’s Playground, Blackpool’s bid to host the National Theatre Museum (potentially in the Winter Gardens) and a new Phase 2 £25 million expansion for Blackpool and the Fylde College’s new town centre campus to create a national Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Performing Arts.

‘The Prime Minister responded enthusiastically to this prospect of bringing these three separate initiatives together and has promised support for meetings with Cabinet Ministers for Culture and Universities and Skills to pursue them further – it’s something which plays to Blackpool’s traditional strengths but gives them a 21st century twist. He also recognizes the urgency and desire in the town to get moving of which we left him with no doubt’ Gordon Marsden said.

Joan Humble added ‘Gordon Brown understands Blackpool’s situation – and that we need to complete the promenade development and put flesh onto the bones of a big new idea that can help lever the private sector into new interest for the old Central Station site originally earmarked for the casino – with its potential for new conference and other facilities.  We will now be meeting with the Council and Regeneration Company to discuss how work on this can go further.  We also made it very clear to the PM that extra pump-priming money will be needed to make it happen.’

‘We value the Prime Minister’s support in trying to get these new ideas and strategies firmer and more urgent.  He responded positively to the need as Mayor Robert Wynne, Jimmy Armfield and others who wrote to him, said, that Blackpool needs a leg-up – and quickly,’ Mr. Marsden said.  ‘These new strategies would tie in closely with the boost already received from the money and regeneration from Government funding for the tramway, promenade completion, housing renewal and the Talbot Gateway,’ Joan Humble added. 

05/03/08