Latest news with #LynnWilliams
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Blackpool Tower to be taken over by council's in-house tourism firm
Blackpool Tower is to be taken over by the local council's own tourism company. The attraction, which has been managed by Merlin Entertainments for 15 years, is set to be handed over to the authority's in-house Blackpool Tourism Ltd company on 1 Council leader Lynn Williams said it was an "exciting" new chapter and a "new era" for Blackpool's tourism Entertainments said it "fully supported" the move. Blackpool Tourism Ltd will also take over managing Madame Tussauds, alongside with the Sandcastle waterpark and the Showtown Museum. Maddam Tussauds, and The Dungeons, will be operated under franchise from Merlin. Williams said: "In 2010, Blackpool Council bought Blackpool Tower bringing it into public ownership for the first time to safeguard the future of our much loved iconic landmark whilst also transforming it into a tourist attraction fit for the 21st added in 2010 "we did not have the skills or knowledge within the town to redevelop the Tower into a modern attraction" and bringing Merlin Entertainments on board was "absolutely the right decision".Andy Turner, Merlin's regional director of Gateway Attractions, said: "We fully support the local authority's desire to see these attractions return to local management."Merlin added existing Merlin season passes and pre-bought tickets would be honoured. 'Replica Eiffel Tower' The Blackpool Tower Company was founded by London-based Standard Contract & Debenture Corporation in 1890, when it bought an aquarium on Central Promenade with the intention of building a replica Eiffel nearly £300,000 the 518 ft (158m) the tower opened on 14 May 1894. Its complex includes a circus whose ring is flooded for its finale, and the 120 ft (37m) by 10 ft (31m) ballroom with a sprung floor made of 30,600 separate planks of oak, mahogany and dancefloor, and the ballroom's famous 1935-built organ, feature prominently in the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Blackpool: Ministry of Defence to occupy new Talbot Road offices
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to transfer more than 1,000 jobs to move, also confirmed by Blackpool Council, will be at the heart of the Talbot Gateway regeneration scheme in the Lancashire seaside council had previously released an artist's impression of the new six-storey office building - which will be funded by the MoD - but had not said who was going to occupy leader Lynn Williams said the "marvellous" news would create jobs for the town's residents. 'Feeling of positivity' No timeline has yet been announced either for the construction of the large office block, or when jobs will transfer to multimillion-pound Talbot Gateway regeneration has already seen the opening of a £100m building for more than 3,000 Department for Work and Pensions said working with the MoD had been "a long, ongoing process" but Blackpool had shown to be a "good partner".She added: "We're going to build a new car park, but we've also got a modern transport system - trams, buses, trains - and we want to encourage people to not necessarily bring the car in." She said more jobs in the town centre "increases footfall and that's great for local businesses".Williams said it would also "bring a feeling of positivity from an investment point of view, and [would] attract other businesses" to government recently announced plans to cut the number of civil servants working in London by 12,000 and to transfer jobs to new regional "campuses" across the planned new 53,000 sq ft (16,154sq m) building will house up to 1,100 staff from Defence Business Services (DBS).The MoD said DBS "provides corporate services across the information and technology, finance, procurement and people function to the whole of Defence, including serving military, veterans and civilian staff, as well as other government departments".DBS representatives signed the contract in March and a ground-breaking ceremony took place last week. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Heritage trams to return to Blackpool promenade
Heritage trams are on track to reappear along Blackpool promenade later this year, the town's council has said. The old tram service was suspended in December 2024 because it was hard to run them alongside the modern fleet. Issues included a lack of depot space as well as safety and maintenance conflicts. Blackpool Council said it had agreed to undertake a "programme of works" with Blackpool Transport Services to allow the heritage trams to run out of the Starr Gate Depot again in time for October half-term's Lightpool Festival. Council leader Lynn Williams said: "I know many people have been concerned about the future of the trams and I hope this reassures them that their future is safe." She added: "I am delighted that a solution has been found that will enable these much-loved trams to be back where they belong on the promenade later this year." The Lightpool festival, which runs from 15 October to 1 November, is set to feature a series of light installations, live performances and 3D projection shows. Visitors and locals alike will be able to book tours on two "illuminated trams" - the Western Train and the Frigate - as well as on the Balloon tram. The heritage trams will then continue running for the rest of the Blackpool Illuminations season, which ends in January 2026. Blackpool Transport Services managing director Jane Cole said: "I am confident the plan we agreed is achievable and I look forward to welcoming customers back on-board in October." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Resort's free Lightpool Festival to be extended £150,000 needed for heritage trams' return New museum 'last chance' to save Blackpool's trams Blackpool Council
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Blackpool promenade's heritage trams to return for Lightpool
Heritage trams are on track to reappear along Blackpool promenade later this year, the town's council has said. The old tram service was suspended in December 2024 because it was hard to run them alongside the modern fleet. Issues included a lack of depot space as well as safety and maintenance Council said it had agreed to undertake a "programme of works" with Blackpool Transport Services to allow the heritage trams to run out of the Starr Gate Depot again in time for October half-term's Lightpool leader Lynn Williams said: "I know many people have been concerned about the future of the trams and I hope this reassures them that their future is safe." 'Blackpool Illuminations' She added: "I am delighted that a solution has been found that will enable these much-loved trams to be back where they belong on the promenade later this year."The Lightpool festival, which runs from 15 October to 1 November, is set to feature a series of light installations, live performances and 3D projection shows. Visitors and locals alike will be able to book tours on two "illuminated trams" - the Western Train and the Frigate - as well as on the Balloon tram. The heritage trams will then continue running for the rest of the Blackpool Illuminations season, which ends in January 2026. Blackpool Transport Services managing director Jane Cole said: "I am confident the plan we agreed is achievable and I look forward to welcoming customers back on-board in October." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Heritage trams to return to Blackpool promenade
Heritage trams are on track to reappear along Blackpool promenade later this year, the town's council has said. The old tram service was suspended in December 2024 because it was hard to run them alongside the modern fleet. Issues included a lack of depot space as well as safety and maintenance conflicts. Blackpool Council said it had agreed to undertake a "programme of works" with Blackpool Transport Services to allow the heritage trams to run out of the Starr Gate Depot again in time for October half-term's Lightpool Festival. Council leader Lynn Williams said: "I know many people have been concerned about the future of the trams and I hope this reassures them that their future is safe." She added: "I am delighted that a solution has been found that will enable these much-loved trams to be back where they belong on the promenade later this year." The Lightpool festival, which runs from 15 October to 1 November, is set to feature a series of light installations, live performances and 3D projection shows. Visitors and locals alike will be able to book tours on two "illuminated trams" - the Western Train and the Frigate - as well as on the Balloon tram. The heritage trams will then continue running for the rest of the Blackpool Illuminations season, which ends in January 2026. Blackpool Transport Services managing director Jane Cole said: "I am confident the plan we agreed is achievable and I look forward to welcoming customers back on-board in October." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Resort's free Lightpool Festival to be extended £150,000 needed for heritage trams' return New museum 'last chance' to save Blackpool's trams Blackpool Council
