
Blackpool's £90m housing revamp plan not ambitious enough
The BBC has contacted Blackpool Council and the government for a response. The first phase of the housing regeneration work will likely focus on one of Blackpool's most deprived areas - the area south of the town centre, between Chapel Street and Rigby Road to Park Road, and the Promenade and Central Drive corridor, the council said.The exact area has not been confirmed yet.
'Look like Didsbury'
But Galley told BBC Radio Lancashire: "There's a big chunk in there that talks about adding plazas to Central Drive and this feels more like gentrification than actually regeneration and supporting people."What's needed is a scheme that's far more ambitious, but also connects the private sector into it - sole traders, small business individuals, people who want to invest."This is just relying on a big government grant than only covers a small fraction of what's required."I don't think they go far enough." However, Webb said the Central Drive area had been "desperately needing this kind of transformation for decades, pretty much since I've been in this town in the mid-eighties"."This is a great first step for the town working with the council but also working with private business to start investing in that area for that partnership to turn that £90m into £400m," he added."For me there is no reason why Central Drive can't look like Didsbury. "That's the ambition, we have to be bold."We've got the first outline coming out soon, so we know exactly where it's going to be."
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The writing's on the billboard, PM — nothing works and Labour isn't listening
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People are beginning to make a link between the undesirables coming into Britain unchecked and rising crime Nigel Farage What is different about these demos — and should be ringing alarm bells in Downing Street — is that they are being attended mostly by mums, who are genuinely worried about their own and their children's safety. This is the silent majority who have had enough and think it is time to speak out. Nigel Farage has been quick to spot this simmering resentment and has launched a six-week campaign to highlight rising crime. The Reform UK leader declared: 'People are beginning to make a link between the undesirables coming into Britain unchecked and rising crime. There is also a mounting sense of anger that the establishment is always trying to stop us from having a reasonable debate.' Politics is broken He has promised to spend £17billion on new prisons built on military bases, hire 30,000 extra police and send murderers and paedophiles to serve their sentences in El Salvador. Labour scoffs it is an uncosted plan drawn up on the back of one of Farage's fag packets — but their hoots of derision won't convince those mums protesting outside migrant hotels. They've endured 14 years of Tory rule, and after less than 14 months of Labour have concluded that politics is broken. It's not just that Labour isn't working. Nothing works and Labour isn't listening. Farage now thinks women could win him the next election. Most people joining his bandwagon in the past few days have been female. It was 58 per cent men and 42 per cent women at the general election but now it's a 50-50 split, he says. This is one reason why his party has topped the last 65 opinion polls. The other is a breakdown in trust among voters. They have lost faith in the police. And they feel betrayed by politicians who they perceive as closing down any debate on their concerns and putting the rights of illegal migrants ahead of hard-working Brits. The social contract is in danger of breaking down as all they get in return for paying record taxes is platitudes and promises. Successive governments vowed to 'take back control', 'stop the boats' and 'smash the gangs'. The former human rights lawyer in No10 may not have his heart in tackling the migrant crisis. But he knows if he doesn't, the next line of people he sees will be those queuing up to vote him out of office. THE nanny state is throwing its protective arm around even more aspects of our daily lives. It now offers advice that goes far beyond the familiar 'mind the gap'. Walking through a London rail terminal the other day, I was dazzled by three video screens urging me and my fellow travellers to 'remember to keep drinking water in the hot weather'. A few steps further on another message cautioned: 'Please watch your step. The floor may be wet'. It was probably caused by panicking passengers rushing to rehydrate. While another flashing sign advised those with heavy luggage to use the lifts instead of struggling up and down stairs. Who'd have thought of that? Well, I've got some advice for Network Rail. See it. Say it. Stop it.


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
John Swinney ‘could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat' if people vote tactically
The First Minister is facing a renewed challenge from veteran Tory Murdo Fraser next year SWINNERS & LOSERS John Swinney 'could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat' if people vote tactically Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOHN Swinney could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat if people vote tactically, a top pollster has claimed. The First Minister is facing a renewed challenge from veteran Tory Murdo Fraser in Perthshire North next year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The First Minister could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat if people vote tactically, a top pollster claims Credit: Michael Schofield 2 Analysis professional Mark Diffley thinks if voters snub Reform UK and Labour and cast ballots for Mr Fraser then Mr Swinney's 4,053 majority could be in jeopardy Credit: jo hanley 2020 And analysis professional Mark Diffley reckons if voters snub Reform UK and Labour and cast ballots for Mr Fraser then Mr Swinney's 4,053 majority could be in peril. Mr Diffley, of the Diffley Partnership, said: 'Tactical voting is a possibility but the Labour and Lib Dem vote shares in this seat in 2021 were negligible. 'Reform might expect to do well here and are likely to eat into Tory votes which makes the job easier for the SNP. 'The SNP took almost 50 per cent of the vote in 2021 and polls indicate that their vote share has fallen by around 15 points since, which might bring this seat into play.' Mr Fraser will be taking on Mr Swinney for a seventh time. He polled 15,807 votes compared to the First Minister's 19,860 in 2021, while Labour got 2,324. The Tory challenger said: 'Nigel Farage has already said he isn't worried about giving the SNP another five years in power. That should terrify every supporter of the Union living in John Swinney's backyard. 'If pro-UK voters in Perthshire want to deliver a verdict on the SNP leader being at the heart of 18 years of nationalist failure, then they must vote for me. 'I will be taking that message to local voters who are sick and tired of the SNP's continual focus on fringe issues, rather than delivering on the real priorities of the people.' Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has said Mr Fraser has a 'realistic' chance of winning the seat. In his conference speech last month, he said: 'The SNP will do everything to protect John Swinney but those seats can be in play for us. Wouldn't that be some prize? Swinney paying the price for his abysmal record.' 'Sad to see him go' - GAA fans emotional seeing Michael D Higgins attend last men's All-Ireland final as President But even if Mr Swinney loses the constituency he is still likely to be elected as a regional list MSP. Mr Diffley said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will be hoping his party's 'unexpected' win by new MSP Davy Russell in last month's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election has boosted their chances of forming a government. He added: 'The SNP is far less popular than it was at the last Holyrood election and polls show low support for the government's performance across key policy issues. 'But Labour has not capitalised on that and the national polls point, at this stage, to the likelihood of the SNP being re-elected next year. 'Many voters are disillusioned with both the UK and Scottish governments which partly explains the rise of Reform and the likelihood that they will do well next year.' Reform and Labour confirmed they will be standing in every seat but their candidates for Perthshire North have yet to be announced. A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: 'Scotland has been badly failed by both the SNP and the Tories, and Scottish Labour will be fighting to win in every part of the country. 'Only Scottish Labour can get rid of this incompetent SNP government and deliver a new direction.' The SNP did not respond to our request for comment.


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fury as bankrupt Birmingham council offering asylum seekers huge discounts on swimming, golf, trampolining & Villa games
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