Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Monday, 6th September 2010

Shut station and we lose our livelihoods

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date:
23 September 2009
TRADERS say closing Blackpool South station could sound the death knell for local businesses.
Blackpool Council is considering moving the platform several hundred yards down the line to Lytham Road as part of the authority's masterplan for the area.

Local businesses have now joined forces with rail enthusiasts to voice their anger over the
proposals to close down the station and move it closer to major tourist attractions.

Politicians too say the council should be attracting more visitors into that area of town, rather than driving them into the town centre and away from grass root businesses.

The chairman of the South Fylde Line Community Rail Partnership said the council will have a fight on their hands if they go ahead with their controversial plans.

Richard Fulford-Brown told The Gazette: "I can assure people the Blackpool South station will not be closed or moved down the line. We were formed over a year ago and definitely not in the business of closing down important stations.

"In fact, we would like to open two more stations along the South Fylde line which is proving very successful for passengers from across the coast and beyond.

"We welcome the support from the Blackpool and Fylde Rail Users Association and the council can be sure these proposals will not succeed."

A report published by the council says closing the station could create development opportunities for better housing and employment.

Today, local traders said closing the station would be another nail in the coffin for businesses trading in South Shore.

Darren Thickett, whose Dolls House Are Us shop is the first stop for shoppers coming off the line on Waterloo Road, said: "This will obliterate trade in South Shore.

"A lot of my customers use the South Fylde line and getting rid of it would sound the death knell for a number of local businesses."

Mark Yates, owner of Brooks Collectables on Waterloo Road, said: "Removing the station will do a lot of damage to local businesses who are already struggling with the recession.

"While many people are doing their best to make their businesses look good it seems the council are trying to take trade away from them."

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said: "We should be working to get more visitors into the South Shore area.

"Blackpool South station needs to be marketed more rather than taken away from users."



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 23 September 2009 10:47 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Blackpool
 
Prev
1
2 3 4
Next
Last
1

geezer466,

23/09/2009 11:43:25
Clearly reading the above not many understand the implications of the current consultation proposals affecting South Shore (soon to be re branded South Beach). By the time they get round to moving the Station then the whole district will be completely different to how it is now. There will be no place for untidy, unkempt unaccredited holiday accommodation nor will there be for houses of multiple occupation where the landlords couldn't give a t0ss about the appearance of their properties or the welfare of their tenants.
Tat shops will be gone and quality shopping will be available through Lytham to Waterloo Road and Bond Street.
The plan is a radical one it is long term (15 years) but it will drag the area up by its boot straps and rid it of the low quality housing transient unskilled population and downright tardiness.

Part of this means upgrading the station so it fits in as a 21st century transport hub and opening up access from the car parks into the heart of South Shore. The ideal place for the Station is at the top of Station Rd (the clue is in the name).

Embrace the change don't fight it. Radical problems need radical solutions.
2

ched999uk,

South Shore 23/09/2009 11:45:10
Every time you read a council proposal they always mention good public transport links and they are always trying to discourage car use. So why the heck do they want to remove South Shore Station?
Its simple, they don't make enough money out of south shore car park as its only busy for a couple of months a year. So if they can make the car park accessible from Lytham road, remove the weight restricted bridge on lytham road, and remove train line to reduce noise then they can sell the car park for houses or industrial units. So they make money selling the land and then from council tax or business rates!!!!

Its all about money!!!!! Closing South Shore Station is the last think they should do. They should provide better access to the station from Waterloo road. It looks terrible. Not the Welcoming sight that Blackpool needs.
3

ched999uk,

South Shore 23/09/2009 11:49:21
geezer466: The problem with moving the station to the top of station road is it doesnt allow the removal of the weight restricted bridge on Lytham road. Plus if they move the station south it had a negative impact on Waterloo road that the council have just spent thousands on making it more attractive. Moving the station will assist in killing Waterloo road area.
4

Sheepdog,

23/09/2009 12:12:59
Its funny that the Victorians realised that the nearer a station is the town centre then the more business the rail line brings , this business then provides more oppurtunity for business to thrive & for how many years the trade duly arrived. Fast forward to 1964 & then see what happens when the direct link into the heart of the town centre is removed & place descends into decline.

The South line is the whole key to getting this town on its feet. Forget North it serves nothing. The South line provides the oppurtunity for a direct rail link from the heart of the town centre to the airport. Do you know ho many towns / cities would give their right arms for that?

South station needs rebuilding into a proper interchange & that can be done by the following

Yeadon Way digging up & converting to the tramway , with brand new car parks at Whitehills to provide park & ride.

Rail line extending back to its original terminus at Central

Lytham Rd totaly reworking to be widened & the tramway from the Marton line sending down Lytham Rd to meet the existing tramway at Rigby Rd

North station shutting & the line to Poulton converting to the tramway

The town will continue to suffer until the woeful rail links & stations are adressed. Moving South station further away will only make matters worse & make access even more difficult therby making the area descend into more decline.

Progess has to come , unfortunatley REBlackpool & the council have absolutley no idea on what real schemes that provide real answers/benefits are. The evidence shown so far of their efforts is at best laughable & at worst woefuly inept.

All this council does is only see short term dollar chasing without realisng that this short term , toy town outlook will cost far more in the long term.
5

John Horrox the Redoubtable Researcher,

23/09/2009 13:10:59
Spot Sheepdog!

Shut down this council and ReBlackpool and we get REGENERATION.
6

emnm1,

23/09/2009 13:49:19
we should realise that the only plans the council really care about is the talbot gateway, and the nice new offices they will move into.
when what we need is conference centre, and need it now!
7

Blackpoolram,

Marton 23/09/2009 13:50:49
Sheepdog, you have far more sense than the Council!
I fully agree with all your suggestions.
8

G7VEW,

Ireland 23/09/2009 14:32:14
Well done Sheepdog! Please stand for council elections!
Or, at least get your tramway proposals out into the open. Your comment makes the best sense I have read for a long while, keep up the good work.
Peter Mac Dougall MCIJ
9

James Simons,

Blackpool 23/09/2009 14:54:58
Good ideas about tramways and railways and stations etc etc but err where does the money come from?
10

ZimFlyer,

23/09/2009 14:56:43
I totally agree with Sheepdog as well about the Blackpool South Train line, we must do everything we can to stop it's closure.

Sheepdog if you get the chance, join our site www.livefromblackpool.co.uk Your ideas for Blackpool's regeneration would be most welcome.
Prev
1
2 3 4
Next
Last

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.