Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde News

Four former Wyre councillors who between them put in decades of service have been made honorary aldermen.

Plans for a crazy golf course have attracted strong support with around 180 comments and letters supporting the scheme so far.

The body that will assess controversial plans for a windfarm off the Fylde coast has demanded more details about the impact the development could have on residents and the environment.

A man who subjected women and girls to a catalogue of horrific assaults and sexual violence has been sentenced to 30 years.

Police are appealing to identify a potential witness after a man died following a collision in Blackpool.

A man has been arrested after a fatal collision in Blackpool last week.

A man suffered serious injuries after a van collided with pedestrians in Poulton-le-Fylde over the weekend.

The compulsory purchase order giving Blackpool Council power to clear the site needed for the £65m multiversity has now been published.

The world-renowned Blackpool Dance Festival has been awarded the prestigious 'Large Event of the Year' at this week's Lancashire Tourism Awards, further cementing its position as one of the region's most significant cultural and economic contributors.

Police are appealing for information after a man died following a collision in Blackpool.

A massive 186,000 tonnes of rock will be used to save a Blackpool beach from the threat of coastal erosion.

Thousands of pounds worth of goods have been stolen from a house in Blackpool.

Fylde Council has announced a refurbishment project for the Kirkham Market Square public toilets, bringing much-needed updates to the facility.

A scheme to transform a former Pizza Hut outlet on Cleveleys seafront into a cafe with padel tennis courts to the rear is now awaiting progress after the application was approved by planners.

Work to demolish Blackpool’s former Bonny Street police station and magistrates court is now underway and is due to be completed by July.

Fears have been raised residents could have left their homes ‘for no reason’ if a proposed new spectator stand is not built at Blackpool Football Club’s Bloomfield Road stadium.

Motorists are being warned of up to 12 weeks of disruption at a major Blackpool junction which is being redesigned to cut congestion.

A Blackpool dad has told how his family is forced to sleep overnight in a camper van to escape rowdy holidaymakers staying in a resort short term holiday let.

Blackpool Council is hoping to work with the Home Office to resolve concerns around the use of the Metropole Hotel on the Promenade to house asylum seekers.

Visitors urged to take precautions as several swans die at the popular beauty spot. Blackpool Council warns the public to keep pets away and avoid contact with birds.

Fylde Council say the Visitor Centre at Fairhaven Lake will remain open after the RSBP formally gave notice they were moving out of the site.

A mothballed adventure course in Blackpool has cost council tax payers £390,000 it has emerged – with one councillor branding the spending as ‘shocking’.

Thousands of knives were seized from a stall in Blackpool as part of action to crack down on violent crime in the town.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has renewed calls for the Metropole Hotel to be closed to asylum seekers – claiming its residents have suffered ill-treatment.

Work is set to begin this summer to build Blackpool’s £65m multiversity after a planning inspector gave the go ahead for the council to buy up the rest of the site.

Fylde Council has approved plans to acquire Kirkham Pool from the YMCA for a nominal sum of £1.

A man has died in hospital following a collision in Catterall last week.

The Fylde Ice Festival is back for its third year, bringing a spectacular array of ice sculptures and family fun to St Annes.

Blackpool Council is set to cut £8.6m from its budget in the coming financial year with council tax bills expected to go up by five per cent.

Grants totalling more than £100,000 have been handed out by Blackpool Council to support community programmes at the town’s Grand Theatre.

The award-winning St Annes Kite Festival is set to take place from midday on Friday 29 August to Sunday 31 August.

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A significant fire broke out last night at a derelict building on Wilton Parade in Blackpool, prompting a substantial response from the Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service.

Blackpool Council has given its approval to enter into a £8m grant funding agreement with a company who will explore the viability of citing a hotel at the listed former Abingdon Street Post Office.

Police are appealing for information after a collision left a cyclist with life threatening injuries.

Wyre Council wants to stop granting permission for new houses on land found to have heightened levels of a cancer-causing chemical – until more is known about the exact risk it poses.

An animal sanctuary in Blackpool is racing against time to raise £10,000 in less than two weeks to secure a permanent home for its residents.

Up to £10,000 could be made available for local good causes from council.

Blackpool is bidding for £750,000 to boost its cultural offer with some of the cash potentially being used to launch new events if the application is successful.

Expect wind speeds of up to 90mph across Lancashire as Storm Eowyn approaches.

Hopes of converting Blackpool’s former Odeon Cinema into a family entertainment centre appear to have been revived with the owners now seeking a leisure operator for the site.

Wyre Council has lodged objections to controversial proposals to develop a sand and gravel quarry next to houses in the village of Preesall.

Anyone feeling vulnerable or scared on a night out in Blackpool will be able to seek help at a new safe haven which has been launched in the town centre.

Police have recovered £28 million worth of assets from a gang of international bitcoin fraudsters.

More cameras could be added to Blackpool’s CCTV system following a £2m investment which saw a new control centre open nearly two years ago.

A man has been jailed for assaulting and coercive controlling a Fleetwood mum who went on to take her own life.

"Time to modernise or face being labelled as too old and tatty" says renowned Blackpool DJ and entrepreneur Jason Fubar.

Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after two decades years of battling cancer.

Plans to build a new ‘first class’ M&S store at Norcross offering ‘6,600 product lines’ have been lodged with planners at Wyre.

Work to create a tram museum in Blackpool is continuing with volunteers hoping to submit a bid for National Lottery funding to support the vision to preserve the resort’s heritage fleet.

A former teacher will appear in court next month as part of an investigation into alleged historic sexual offences in Fleetwood.

Parents who have yet to apply for a primary school place starting this September in Lancashire are being reminded that the deadline for applications falls on Wednesday 15 January.

It has played host to The Beatles, legendary clown Charlie Cairoli and a host of dances and election counts – and this year Fleetwood’s Marine Hall turns 90.

Volunteers who are battling to restore a famous Blackpool landmark are appealing for more people to join their ranks.

More than one in 10 patients is facing a wait of at least 24 hours in A&E as winter pressures pile up at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Lancashire Police arrested 331 people for drink or drug driving related offences in December 2024, 24% more than last year.

Improved lighting and greening up of parts of the town centre are among the schemes funded by £1.5m of government cash.

A carcinogenic substance has been found in gardens and allotments close to the grounds of a former chemical plant in Thornton Cleveleys.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has set his own party a challenge – declaring “It’s about time UK Labour came back to Blackpool’.

Fylde Council has announced the launch of a transformative initiative to install new bus shelters across St Annes.

Police are appealing for information after a woman suffered serious injuries following a collision in St Annes.

Blackpool needs a large events arena to compete with rival towns and cities on the entertainment circuit, a former councillor who played guitar with some of the biggest stars of the 1970s has warned.

Lancashire County Council's gritting crews are preparing to put some brand-new snow-clearing kit to the test as they get ready to tackle the severe weather predicted for this weekend.

A fresh appeal has gone out for more people to come forward to act as foster carers in Blackpool with the resort still having more than 500 children living in council care.

Work is due to begin early in the new year on a new passenger handling facility at Blackpool Airport as part of major investment in the air hub in 2025.

Blackpool’s Tory opposition leader has warned of council tax rises and cuts to services despite a £17m funding boost for town hall spending next year.

Chris McCausland’s triumph on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing has resonated far beyond the glittering ballroom, raising public awareness about visual impairment and inspiring workplaces to consider accessibility and inclusivity more deeply.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a man suffered serious injuries in a collision in Pilling over the weekend.

A number of figures across Lancashire have been recognised in the 2025 King’s New Year Honours List.

Blackpool’s Winter Gardens conference centre is bringing a multi million pound boost in business tourism to the town.

Blackpool’s ambitious regeneration programme is set to make more progress in 2025 with the resort poised for hundreds of millions of pounds of investment.

Work on a £7.5m scheme to transform a historic Blackpool building into a modern hub for small businesses is on track to be completed by next spring.

Blackpool’s £350m Talbot Gateway will see a number of key milestones reached in 2025 as the next phases of development make progress.

A charity which supports young homeless people in Blackpool has seen a rise in demand for its services this year and is warning of a funding ‘cliff edge’.

Part of Blackpool town centre will be closed to traffic to enable the resort to literally lay down the red carpet for visiting celebrities next month.

A £1.7m new youth centre in Blackpool is on track to launch in the spring after the building work was completed two months ahead of schedule.

The Fleetwood to Knott End ferry service will be out of action until February due to a fault with the vessel.

Blackpool is preparing to bring the curtain down on 2024 with a spectacular New Year’s Eve party on the Prom.

Work has started to build 11 new business units at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone with four already sold.

A Wyre councillor says she has advised worried constituents to attend new drop-in sessions offering updates on a probe into historic chemical contamination in Thornton.

Blackpool has received a grant for £1.8m towards planting new trees across the borough as part of a strategy to green up the town.

Blackpool is set to receive £2.3m of government funding to fix potholes across the town.

A £17m increase in Blackpool Council’s spending power next year has been welcomed by the council leader – but she warned it remains ‘impossible’ to turn the clock back on previous cuts.

Central Radio North West is delighted to announce that seasoned broadcaster Ian Shepherd will be joining our team as a presenter, bringing his unparalleled passion, flair, and connection to the community back to the airwaves.

Blackpool is to receive nearly £3m to tackle homelessness in the resort as latest figures show a rise in the number of people without a proper home.

A scheme to revive an Over Wyre pub which had fallen into near-dereliction is back with Wyre planners – a year after it was approved.

In a heartwarming gesture of community spirit, local travel agent Ryan Anthoney, owner of Geggs Getaways, has gone above and beyond to spread festive cheer at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Fylde Council has announced the company in talks to take over the operation and reopening of Kirkham swimming pool have pulled out.

A demolition team has been appointed to bulldoze the former Bonny Street Police Station and magistrates courts paving the way for potential new developers to take over the Blackpool Central site.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds is to be spent upgrading facilities at two key areas of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

Local young actor Reuben (8) is making a splash in this year’s Christmas Day Family Animation on BBC One at 2:35pm, Tiddler; as the title role Tiddler.

Fylde Council recently hosted a well-attended Bidders Day for potential St Annes Pool operators at the Town Hall.

Construction has commenced to restore the 2.5km of pathway between Wyre Estuary Country Park, Stanah and Skippool Picnic Area and car park.

New figures show more people visited Blackpool seafront this summer – peaking at 6.8 million in July – despite setbacks including the cost of living crisis and riots.

Six men have been charged after a series of drugs warrants were executed across the Fylde coast.

Wyre Council has been working hard with external specialists Arcadis on a masterplan aimed at transforming the area along the waterfront at Fleetwood.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has called for the town’s historic trams to be back running as soon as possible after the service was suspended.

Plans to build a new hotel alongside Blackpool’s Winter Gardens complex have finally received full approval after landscaping concerns were resolved.

Work to build a 110-space car park in Blackpool has begun – but has come under renewed criticism from those saying the space should have been developed into a town centre park instead.

The land sale agreement with collapsed developer Nikal Ltd has now been formally terminated by Blackpool Council – paving the way for a new investor to be found.

Plans to change a residential house in Cleveleys into a small children’s home have been refused by planners.

Lytham Institute, a registered charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Lytham and the surrounding areas, has announced the launch of a recruitment campaign to appoint six additional trustees.

Fleetwood Town FC said they were disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of racism towards an opposition player.

Plans to build 93 homes in the Norcross area between Thornton and Anchorsholme have been resubmitted to planners.

A man from Blackpool has been jailed for five years after obtaining £22,000 through blackmail. 

​Police have charged four men after cannabis with an estimated street value of more than £4 million was found in Blackpool. 

Lancashire Police has launched its seasonal drug and drink driving crackdown.

Fire bosses say 'You could be putting your life at risk' if you run your dryer whilst you sleep

An RAF veteran from Lytham is asking local people to send messages of support this Christmas to veterans who are struggling with physical and mental challenges.

American rock band Kings of Leon will headline the opening night of the 2025 Lytham Festival.

We've got a full list of Christmas events and activities in Lancashire

A Fleetwood man has been jailed for his part in the disorder in Blackpool in the summer.

A call to ditch Blackpool’s extended Illuminations season because it is not cost-effective has been dismissed by council bosses who say the Lights provide a massive boost to the resort.

The MP for Fylde has warned the creation of a single coastal council encompassing Blackpool would be “disastrous” for the wider area.

A row over landscaping around a proposed new landmark hotel looks set to be resolved after the developer agreed to pay out for tree planting elsewhere.

Calls have been made for more expensive Saturday funerals to be brought in line with the cost of a weekday service to help reduce delays for mourners.

Police are appealing for information after two people were injured by a dog in Blackpool.

Blackpool Council is seeking views on a draft masterplan for Stanley Park.

Investment which is a vital step towards eventually restoring scheduled flights to Blackpool Airport has taken another stride forward.

Residents in Fylde say the borough council could have done more to raise awareness and challenge controversial plans to site windfarm cables and substations across the area.

A delayed scheme to build a new community sports village alongside Blackpool Football Club looks set to be amended before the investment can begin.

Plans to turn a private medical practice in Garstang into apartments have been approved by planners at Wyre.

A man has been jailed for more than five years for manufacturing a firearm.

Fylde Council has launched the procurement process for the new contract to manage St Annes swimming pool.

Abingdon Street Market’s retail area has already reached one year of trading.

Council chiefs will start seeking a new developer early next year after plans for a £300m leisure scheme in the heart of Blackpool collapsed.

One of Blackpool’s oldest pubs has re-opened following a £200,000 investment which included rebuilding the front of the venue which was at risk of collapse.

Former Blackpool MPs have paid tribute to John Prescott who was a regular visitor to the resort during his time in government.

Traffic jam-busting technology such as ‘smart’ junctions will be used to improve travel times in Blackpool town centre thanks to a multi-million pound injection of cash.

Police are appealing for information after £10,000 of model trains stolen were stolen from an address in Cleveleys.

During the festive period, free parking sessions will be available every Friday and Saturday at Wyre Council car parks.

Blackpool is preparing to bid a fond farewell to one of the most successful events seasons on record with a free family celebration on New Year’s Eve.

Wyre Council has purchased its first empty home as part of the Affordable Housing Delivery Programme.

Lancaster on Ice is set to return to the picturesque Dalton Square in Lancaster, bringing festive cheer to the city.

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is open – with a helping hand from the stars of Strictly Come Dancing.

Blackpool has been handed a £6m boost towards two key regeneration projects in the town.

A pub on Cleveleys seafront which has frequently been empty since it was built 18 years ago is now to become a veterinary practice.

Detectives investigating the murder of Kevin Price in Blackpool have charged two people.

Uber drivers in Blackpool are charging as little as 36p for a two mile journey, it has been claimed, with fears raised such low fares mean cabbies will not be able to sustain their livelihoods.

The rising cost of baby milk is causing hardship for many Blackpool families – with some even resorting to shoplifting so they can bottle-feed their babies.

Nine groups of volunteers based in Lancashire have been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Around two thirds of people in Blackpool who have responded so far to a survey about assisted dying say they would support legislation to allow terminally ill adults to end their life.

Blackpool is preparing to launch a magnificent programme of Christmas entertainment – with a sprinkling of Strictly stardust!

A local mother and football coach is leading a campaign to ensure that all youth sports venues provide accessible toilet facilities, highlighting a significant disparity affecting young female athletes.

A murder inquiry is underway after the body of a man was found in Blackpool.

A £65m regeneration project in the heart of Blackpool will be put at risk if permission is not given to clear the site, a public inquiry has been told.

Proposals for new sheltered housing in Blackpool have got the go ahead in order to meet an ‘overwhelming need’ for this type of accommodation in the town.

A number of stores across the Fylde coast sold a bladed item to an underage person in a recent test purchase operation.

Fylde Council has approved an extension of their Kirkham Pool Disposal Plan with the YMCA to a backstop date of 17th February 2025.

A man who stabbed someone before causing a lengthy stand off with police has been jailed.

Controversial plans to turn a large residential home in Cleveleys into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved by planners at Wyre.

People are being urged to ensure they dispose of batteries responsibly after an e-bike sparked a blaze which closed down Blackpool’s tip.

It was a place of learning for many years, but 10 years after its closure the site of the former Bispham High School is now being transformed for 21st century living.

Blackpool Council is set to launch a consultation into their multi-million pound plans to extend sea defence works in Anchorsholme.

Millions of pounds of drugs have been discovered when police raided a property in Fleetwood.

The role played by Blackpool FC fans in pushing for new rules for football club owners has been recognised by the government minister at the helm of new legislation.

Proposals to build more than 50 homes in Preesall are this week to go before Wyre planners for the third time.

The Blackpool South MP has been mugged by a gang in London.

Blackpool should follow in the footsteps of Manchester to build an indoor concert arena, according to one of the town’s MPs.

One of Blackpool’s oldest pubs was in danger of collapse after its historic frontage was found to be crumbling away.

Ambitious plans to tackle town centre congestion in Blackpool have been given the green light by the Government.

Planners have reined in proposals for a stable block to house Blackpool’s famous landau horses on a residential street, despite the area’s history for keeping the animals.

A man from Lytham St Annes has appeared in court in connection to an investigation into a multi million pound PPE fraud.

A man has been jailed after raping a woman in her own home. 

In winter, seasonal flu can cause thousands of people in the UK to receive hospital treatment every day.

Questions have been raised over the addition of fluoride to school milk in Blackpool after claims on social media the practice is unsafe.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb is calling on the government to overhaul taxi laws following a meeting with the minister in charge.

New powers are to come into force banning the use of tents for sleeping in shop doorways and on the Promenade in Blackpool.

Blackpool’s newest MP has pledged to be at the heart of the community after criticism from some quarters she has not been visible enough since her election in July.

Police are appealing for witnesses after an elderly pedestrian was seriously injured in a collision in Thornton Cleveleys.

Two brothers have been given prison sentences totalling almost 30 years after raping and sexually assaulting a number of children.

Blackpool has received a further £1.7m from the government’s Household Support Fund – with £300,000 being set aside to help vulnerable pensioners including those who have lost their winter fuel allowance.

Pubs, restaurants and guest-houses in Blackpool are facing a ‘cliff edge’ if business rates relief runs out in April next year as currently expected.

Work is underway on a project to build 154 new homes in Thornton on a site which has proved controversial due to archaeological finding there.

The Kentown Wizard Foundation has announced a significant milestone - surpassing £20 million in grant-giving.

A 20-year-old Blackpool man has been jailed for the role he played in the disorder in Blackpool in August. 

A controversial housing development in Thornton which was granted planning approval two years ago is no longer going ahead and a completely new scheme by a different group has been lodged with Wyre planners.

Blackpool has unveiled an extraordinary programme of light-based art as the annual Lightpool Festival gets underway.

Blackpool Neighbourhood Policing Teams have executed two Misuse of Drug Warrants at addresses in the Brunswick area.

Residents across Lancashire are being welcomed into their local libraries to get a hot drink, meet new people and to stay warm as temperatures drop.

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.

A campaign urging people to clean up after their dogs is being relaunched in Blackpool to coincide with the arrival of darker nights when many people walk their pets closer to home.

Thousands of tourists arrive daily in Blackpool by coach – boosting the resort’s tourism economy by hundreds of thousands of pounds each day, new research has shown.

Blackpool Council has been forced to write off almost £1.6m of debt with around half of that due to unpaid business rates.

A new housing scheme for Poulton will see 300 homes built in 2025 after planners gave the full scheme the green light.

Plans to build hundreds of houses on the edge of Blackpool are back on the table after proposals have stalled over many years.

A rubbish mountain has appeared outside the former fracking site in Fylde after the spot became a magnet for fly-tipping.

Police appealing for information and footage after collision between a car and a cyclist in Blackpool.

Work could begin to build Blackpool’s £65m multiversity in May or June next year providing the site has been assembled.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has called for urgent action to address the demands of the Waspi women campaign after raising the issue in Parliament.

Two men have been jailed after a man was left in a critical condition in hospital.

National children’s charity, Dreams Come True, has been awarded a five-year £867,500 grant to deliver dreams to children in the greatest of need across Blackpool and the North West.

New research announced this week shows more money is spent in hospice charity shops across the UK than hospices receive from the government.

Work to build Blackpool’s £40m new magistrates court is to face delays due to the collapse of the main contractor.

A bid for a further £11m to protect Blackpool from the risk of rising sea levels has been successful.

A proposed £10m culture hub in Blackpool town centre has got the go ahead from councillors.

A pyrotechnics team from Poland have been crowned champions of Blackpool’s annual World Fireworks competition after wowing record crowds.

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is returning for 2024.

A new branch of coffee brand Starbucks could be coming to Blackpool town centre.

Blackpool Airport is flying high two years into its 10-year master plan – but the return of commercial holiday flights is still being ruled out.