Latest news with #MichaelVincent
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wyre Council promises to pursue Fleetwood seafront revamp plans
A council has promised to pursue its "ambitious" plans to revitalise its seafront despite missing out on a share of £1.5bn of government Fleetwood scheme would include redeveloping the Marine Hall to include a restaurant, offices and event spaces, to create a better connection between the waterfront and town centre, and refurbishing Fleetwood Leisure Council said it was continuing to work with external specialists to develop a business case for other funding for the leader Michael Vincent said: "We want Fleetwood to be an exciting and vibrant place to live, work and visit." 'Glamping pods' A £16m refurbishment of Fleetwood Leisure Centre is planned to upgrade the existing sports and pool facilities and rebrand as a health and wellness promenade would be reconfigured and the Lancashire town's beach huts would be refurbished to provide standalone "glamping pods" to "tap into the staycation market"."The town has a fascinating history, a dramatic coastline and stunning heritage assets such as the art-deco Marine Hall theatre which has stood proud for almost 90 years," said Mr added: "We are committed to building upon that and attracting investment and funding in the future to support the town to reach its full potential. "The regeneration plans are a real blueprint for success."Councillor Peter Le Marinel, planning policy and economic development portfolio holder, said Wyre Council remained committed to attracting investment to enhance the town's existing said the council had appointed design and engineering consultants Aecadis to develop business cases for four projects outlined in its masterplan. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer
BBC News
28-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thornton-Cleveleys: Planning ban sought over chemical concerns
A council wants to temporarily ban granting planning permission for new houses on land found to have heightened levels of a carcinogenic Council launched an investigation into possible contamination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on land at the site of AGC Chemicals, formerly ICI, at Thornton-Cleveleys, after concerns were raised by local authority has asked the government to approve a temporary ban on land close to the site until more is known about the risks it Council leader, Michael Vincent, said it was a sensible decision while an investigation continued. He told BBC Radio Lancashire the case was "unprecedented" in the area. "It doesn't make sense to me to allow any more development on top of land that in six to 12 months we could be saying is contaminated and the polluter is required to clean it all up," Mr Vincent said. Initial tests found that, in some cases, the levels of PFOA in land close to the former chemical plant exceeded those acceptable for growing vegetables for private detailed tests are being carried out on 22 areas of land by the Environment Agency (EA).Mr Vincent told the Local Democracy Reporting Service if the EA concluded the level of PFOA in the soil around the site posed "a serious threat to health and safety", the local authority would issue a contaminated land notice which would give it greater power over the future use of the area in until then he said the authority did not have any power to deny permission to council said ICI, and subsequent site owner AGC Chemicals, were permitted to use the substance from the 1950s to poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are nicknamed "forever chemicals" because they are difficult to break down in the were used in the production of everyday items such as non-stick pans and waterproof PFAS, including PFOA, have prompted health and environmental concerns and have been linked to cancer and fertility issues. 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.
