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Council accused of snubbing Blackpool's heritage
BLACKPOOL Council has been accused of snubbing the resort's heritage by pulling down a landmark art deco building.
The 1930s lifeboat house next to Central Pier has been demolished to make way for the town's 70m sea defences.
Although owned by the council, it was the RNLI.'s Blackpool base until 1998 when the new lifeboat station opened further down the Promenade.
But historian and writer Terry Regan has branded the loss of the building as a blow to local heritage.
He said: "In an era where Blackpool is supposed to be re-evaluating its unique history and heritage, it comes as a big shock to see, that without a by your leave, some bright spark has sanctioned the total demolition of the little 1930s, art-deco, lifeboat house, which stood proudly adjacent to Central Pier.
"We all know the building actually became redundant as a lifeboat station some years ago, but considering the important chapter this building played in the ongoing story concerning the history and heritage of Blackpool, why couldn't it have been spared the chop?
"There is proud lifeboat tradition here.
"Any other town would surely have revered and protected such an architectural bijou, or if necessary, taken it down piece by piece and rebuilt it elsewhere – but not Blackpool."
A spokeswoman for Blackpool Council insisted the building could not be saved.
She said: "Sadly, the original lifeboat house wasn't in a suitable state to be dismantled, stored and rebuilt so we have been unable to save it."
For the full story, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Gazette.
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Weather for Blackpool
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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