Blackpool Council approve £22m tramway plan

The council accepted the proposal to purchase the Wilkinson’s building on Talbot Road to develop a terminal for the new tramway extension to Blackpool North train station at a meeting last night.

The move aims to improve the look of the Talbot Gateway and provide a joined-up service for people changing between train and tram travel.

Building work on the £22m project is set to begin in 2018, and will see the development of an extended tram line travelling up Talbot Road from the Promenade, and a tram stop at Talbot Square.

Coun Fred Jackson, cabinet member for municipal assets, said: “Extending the tramline to the station will make it easier for commuters and tourists to move between the two and will also provide more opportunities to increase our visitor numbers – in turn creating more jobs and boosting the local economy.

“We cannot stand still and hope that Blackpool will grow without our help. We have to continue to be ambitious and enterprising to drive the town forward in ways that will increase jobs for our local people and improve the economic conditions for businesses.

“This is a tremendously large piece of work but I’m convinced the end product will be something that the town will look back on and be proud of.”