Latest news with #PaulGalley
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Blackpool unfairly left out of transport funding, says councillor
The Fylde coast is losing out to big cities when it comes to investment in multibillion-pound transport projects, a councillor has Galley, leader of the opposition Conservative group on Blackpool Council, said the Labour government's recent infrastructure funding announcements amounted to a "two tier funding system designed to invest in big cities at the expense of places like Blackpool".Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged more than £14bn for tram, train and bus upgrades across England, but the latest announcements cover areas governed by metro government said it was "committed to delivering transport infrastructure". 'Unlocking opportunity' Recently published investment plans have included £2.5bn for Greater Manchester's tram extension, £1.6bn for Liverpool City Region improvements and £1.8bn for a new Metro link between Newcastle and month it was announced that more than £4m will be invested in improving bus services in Galley said key transport schemes on the Fylde coast, such as the long-awaited Fleetwood to Poulton Tram-Train link and the passing loop on the Blackpool South railway line, had been Anchorsholme councillor said: "Blackpool and the Fylde coast is being ignored by Westminster."While we see billions pouring into Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, our vital local projects remain stuck on the drawing board."This isn't just about fairness, it's about unlocking opportunity for our residents, improving connectivity for businesses, and creating jobs." The Fleetwood Tram-Train project, which would reconnect Fleetwood to the national rail network and ease congestion on local roads, has long been an aspiration for many in the Blackpool South line passing loop, meanwhile, is seen as vital for delivering a more frequent and reliable rail service between Blackpool, Lytham, and still lacks government backing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service added: "When the government got rid of Levelling Up and focussed on elected mayors, I feared this would happen."The message from government is clear: unless you're in a mayoral area, your community doesn't count."It's time for our town to be treated equally, with the same level of investment and ambition seen elsewhere in the North and it should not depend on us having an elected mayor." 'Plan for Change' Councillor Mark Smith, cabinet member for economy and built environment at Labour-run Blackpool Council, said: "We're extending and improving our journey times, including those vital routes to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. "With the money we have received we can improve our infrastructure."A government spokesman said: "We are committed to delivering transport infrastructure that will boost growth and opportunity across the whole country, as part of our Plan for Change."This includes investing in Blackpool, where this year alone we are already providing £4.2m towards better bus services, £2.3m of highways maintenance funding, £286k to enable better walking, wheeling and cycling opportunities and a share of the £34,945,000 Local Transport Grant for Lancashire Combined County Authority." 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
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
New museum 'last chance' to save Blackpool's trams
Campaigners have urged people to get behind a new visitor attraction as part of a "last chance" bid to help save a town's fleet of heritage trams.A workshop in Blackpool has been repurposed by volunteers to house the historical vehicles and is set to open later this month as the Tramtown exhibition is part of a heritage project aimed at securing the future of the tram service which was suspended by council-owned Blackpool Transport in December due to safety volunteer and Blackpool councillor Paul Galley said the vehicles were "fundamental to the DNA of Blackpool". Mr Galley said it was hoped opening the exhibition centre would help support a bid for grant funding of up to £5m from the National Lottery. Workshops at Blackpool Transport's Rigby Road have been re-purposed to become the Tramtown centre as other parts of the depot needed roof repairs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting have spent the last few weeks smartening up the centre with paint, new lights and a shop in time to welcome the public back from Good Friday. Mr Galley said: "This is the last chance to save these heritage trams and if it doesn't work we will lose them as there will be nowhere to store them. "It's about protecting them and in time being able to recruit new engineers to maintain them."Jane Cole, managing director of Blackpool Transport, previously said the aim was to restore the heritage trams later this she said there were "a number of complex operational issues that need to be addressed" before they could take to tracks once again. 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
28-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Blackpool's £90m housing revamp plan not ambitious enough
A £90m plan to regenerate deprived areas in central Blackpool "doesn't go far enough", the leader of the Conservative group on the council has said. The authority was awarded the funding from the government last year to demolish about 400 properties, which are no longer fit for purpose, and replace them with up to 280 bigger new councillor Paul Galley said the scheme needed to be "far more ambitious".But Labour MP for Blackpool South, Chris Webb, said the project was "a brilliant first step in transforming Central Drive". 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 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." 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
30-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Blackpool: Heated exchange in grooming gang inquiry debate
There were heated exchanges as councillors debated calls for Blackpool to be part of a national inquiry into child grooming warning the resort has many of the risks associated with child sexual exploitation, Conservative group leader councillor Paul Galley failed to get a notice of motion Galley had submitted a motion to a meeting of the full council urging for a letter to be written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asking for a national inquiry, with Blackpool of the Justice for Charlene Downes campaign group booed and unfurled banners which said Break the Silence on Child Abuse as his notice of motion was thrown. Child targeted online The ruling Labour group instead voted for an amendment welcoming the government's decision to implement the recommendations made by the Jay Report, following a seven year inquiry into child sex Jim Hobson, cabinet member for children's services, said the outcome of an inspection into child safeguarding had been received, which praised the council's response to children at risk of Mr Galley told the meeting child grooming gangs potentially operated from hotels and amusement arcades and warned "Blackpool should have a voice" in any future inquiry which needed to cover links to coastal group deputy leader councillor Michele Scott added: "We have all seen the reports of vile crimes against children. We have heard how this is a far greater problem in our society and far more widespread than any of us could have imagined."She said a child in her own ward had recently been targeted by an online groomer and was saved only due to the vigilance of their family, while the police had recently sent text messages to residents warning them of the risks of grooming and county including councillor Jim O'Neill from Reform UK said the recommendations of the Jay Report should be implemented at the same time as a new national inquiry was the Labour group said Blackpool had been successfully tackling the risk of child sexual exploitation in the town since 2004 when the multi-agency Awaken task force had been set up following the disappearance of 14-year-old schoolgirl Charlene Downes. 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.
