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Tories' party tramline
BLUE politicians will turn green for the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool this month.
Delegates are being urged to jump aboard Blackpool buses and trams while they are in the resort for their week-long annual conference which will take place at the Winter Gardens from September 30.
Mountains of paper generated for the event will be recycled – some earmarked for use as bedding at zoos, including Blackpool.
Out of 10,000 delegates expected to attend, 1,000 have been issued with complimentary passes to be used on Blackpool Transport services for the duration of the conference.
The Tories say they struck an agreement with Blackpool Council in a bid to cut the use of taxis.
A Conservative Party spokes-man said: "This shows the party's commitment to green issues and reducing carbon emissions.
"Delegates are also being encouraged to use public transport or car sharing schemes when travelling to the resort. A big effort is being made to reduce our carbon footprint."
The party has pledged to use a number of other green initiatives like minimising air conditioning, using low-energy lights, recycling and using bio-degradable bags.
A spokesman for Blackpool Council said: "Delegates are entitled to free public transport.
"It is a response to the green agenda as well as a way of moving them around."
Jean Cox, customer services officer for Blackpool Transport, said: "We always welcome the conference delegates to Blackpool. It's very positive to show that we can move great numbers of people about the resort.
"Our business is to get people to travel via public transport and reduce their carbon footprint."
Delegates were given the option to apply for the complimentary travel pass when they registered for the annual event.
For those who missed out, representatives of Blackpool Transport will also be selling special four-day bus and tram passes at the discounted price of 7 during the conference.
Conservative MP for Fylde, Michael Jack, said: "I wel-come Blackpool Transport's generosity.
"It is only one week out of 52, but it may give people the taste of what a true low carbon transport system can look like.
"As a low carbon economy this is an effort towards changing what happens on the other 51 weeks.
"Blackpool is the vanguard of the green movement.
"So far it has been fighting a lonely battle in protecting its tram services but it may encourage other authorities to become supporters."
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
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