Blackpool Council hits back at ‘waste of money’ jibe over street art funded by Government for communities
“There are better ways to spend public money.”
A mile long wellness walk featuring art work and street furniture has been unveiled as a new feature for Blackpool – but the project has not pleased everyone.
The scheme has been blasted as a waste of money which could have been used for better purposes to serve one of Blackpool’s most deprived communities.
The colourful corridor has been inspired by ideas from local schoolchildren and is taking shape in the Claremont ward, just north of the town centre.
But Mark Rabjohns, who is the Reform UK candidate selected to stand in Claremont in the forthcoming council elections next year, has questioned the benefit of the £200,000 project.
It has been funded by Blackpool’s £1.5m Pride in Place Impact Fund, intended to regenerate neglected spaces, create welcoming environments, and enhance local pride across the town.
SERVES NO PURPOSE
Mr Rabjohns said: “There are better ways to spend public money. Claremont is a very deprived area and just up the road there is a play area that is practically falling to pieces.
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“This is not solving anything and I don’t believe there has been any consultation about it for ordinary people around here.
“It’s a waste of time and money when it doesn’t address any issues and many people agree with me say and say that it is not going to serve any purpose.
“There is hardly any place in Blackpool where kids can go to be mentored, where someone can instill values or put them on the right path.
“I doubt very much this is going to stop any vandalism.”
The idea for the project came from children and young people at Claremont’s Magic Club.
During design workshops, they explained how they wanted their streets to be cleaner, greener and more colourful to make walking around their community a more cheerful experience.
The Wellness Walk will follow eight streets between Claremont Park and the Grundy Art Gallery, on Queen Street.
Dozens of colourful planters and benches, wayfinding posts, and bright artworks are being added to key junctions along the route and a map outlining the Wellness Walk route will be situated at Westminster Primary Academy.
Blackpool Council Leader Lynn Williams and Blackpool South MP Chris Webb have supported the investment, working together to secure funding for projects which make a practical difference to local communities.
IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Cllr Williams, also Claremont ward councillor, said: “What I really want people to understand about this project is where the idea came from. It was our children and young people who told us what they wanted to see in their neighbourhood.
“They want to walk to school, into town and around Claremont along streets that looked brighter and more welcoming – to feel good about the place they live and the routes they walk every day.
“We listened, and I’m really pleased that we are now seeing their ideas starting to become reality.
“The planters, trees, artwork and new street furniture might seem like relatively small things individually, but when you bring them together along a mile-long route, they can make a real difference to how streets look and feel.
“This is about listening to our community, and particularly our young people, and acting on what they tell us.”
The Wellness Walk also forms part of the wider ‘Our Claremont People’s Plan’, ensuring community-led regeneration for the area. Supported by Blackpool Council, Magic Club, and Homes England, the People’s Plan has been drawn up following feedback from 140+ Claremont residents.
Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South, added: “I’m proud that the Pride in Place Impact Fund is being used to deliver the priorities identified by local people through the Claremont People’s Plan.
“This Wellness Walk is a brilliant example of community-led regeneration – creating a greener, more welcoming neighbourhood while improving connections between Claremont and the town centre.
“This adds to Pride in Place Impact Fund money for the Grundy Art Gallery and shows our continued commitment to investing in Claremont.
“Under previous governments, areas like this have not received the level of investment they deserve, so I’m really pleased to be able to agree with the council on funding being directed towards projects that will make a visible difference to residents’ everyday lives.”