Policy sprint – Blackpool's message is cutting through
Tomorrow a cross-government policy sprint, led by DCMS, comes to Blackpool, to develop a strategic approach to regional growth and place-based regeneration through our visitor economy.
This is the culmination of two years spent making the case in Westminster that Blackpool should be a poster child for government success, and it follows a meeting with DCMS in July, where we set out Blackpool's ambition to become a year-round resort, attracting higher-spend visitors and building on major initiatives like Blackpool Central.
Last week, that growing attention was on full display when Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy joined us for the Illuminations Switch-On. Before the event, I took her into the Tower Circus, where she had the chance to speak directly with apprentices about the opportunities Blackpool offers in hospitality and entertainment, exactly the kind of career pathway I want to see more young people here able to access. We also met Mooky the clown, and Lisa was a bit starstruck, telling him she’s a big fan!
Lisa with apprentices in the Tower Circus
The switch on marked the end of the summer season and it’s been a great one for Blackpool, bolstered by the Great British Summer Savings scheme which gave tourists and local families across our town more reasons to go and enjoy it.
I started the summer on Downing Street with Luca Vettese, whose family has been making ice cream at Notarianni's on Waterloo Road for four generations, to make sure the government heard directly from a local business about what support like this scheme means on the ground.
With Luca Vettese on Downing Street
From 25 June, VAT was cut from 20% to 5% on children's meals, cinema and theatre tickets and entry to attractions, and throughout August every child aged five to 15 in England could travel free on local buses. In Blackpool South alone, that meant around 14,800 children could get around for free, and 12,800 families could feel the benefit of the VAT cut.
A week before Lisa’s visit I spent a rainy morning at the Pleasure Beach, riding the brand new Aviktas alongside Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock. We were welcomed by Amanda Thompson, the third generation of her family to run the theme park. It was a reminder of exactly why people keep coming back to Blackpool, whatever the weather.
With Stephanie Peacock on Aviktas
Between those two visits was a summer that mattered, and schemes like this one gave local families the same access to that offer. It's about a family being able to afford a meal out, or a bus fare to the seafront, without breaking the bank. The scheme has now ended, but the lesson from it hasn't, and when Stephanie visited I made it clear, alongside Kate Shane from Blackpool Tourism Ltd and Amanda Thompson, that our hospitality and tourism businesses need this support year round.
Tomorrow's sprint is the next step in that argument. Two years of pushing Blackpool's case are starting to pay off.
