Blackpool MP Chris Webb: It's my job to ensure every corner of Blackpool South gets the attention it deserves
In this week’s column Blackpool South MP Chris Webb talks why he plans to head ‘beyond the Prom’ again this summer...
When the rest of the country pictures Blackpool, they see the Promenade – the Tower, the piers, the lights, the bustle. I'm proud to represent it, and I'm proud that millions of visitors will visit again this summer.
But those of us who live here know Blackpool is so much more than a golden mile of coastline. Too often, there's a sense that the rest of the town gets overlooked. It's my job to make sure every corner of Blackpool South gets the attention it deserves.
That's why, from 1 to 14 August, I'll be heading Beyond the Prom again for my second annual Summer Roadshow – out on the streets every day, visiting local businesses, community spaces and neighbourhoods across the constituency to meet residents and hear directly from the people who make this town special.
Last year's tour taught me how much Blackpool has to shout about away from the seafront – hidden green spaces, thriving youth clubs, historic pubs, creative projects and high streets full of character, kept alive by volunteers, coaches, organisers and small business owners who rarely get the credit they deserve.
It also showed me the problems residents deal with day to day – fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, rough sleeping, the need for investment. So this year, I’ll be once again joined by Neighbourhood policing teams to tackle issues head-on. Neighbourhood Environmental Action Teams will be out in hotspot areas dealing with fly-tipping, graffiti and litter. And local councillors will be walking with me too, ready to pick up council-related concerns on the spot.
This roadshow is about action. If we find a problem, we'll get it sorted. But it's also a celebration of our communities, our local heroes, and the Blackpool spirit that goes far beyond the prom.
If you know a community group, business or local champion I should visit, let me know – I'd love to meet them. Let's make this a summer of connection and change, Beyond the Prom. I can't wait to see you out there.
Keep up to date with the work Chris Webb is doing at chriswebb.org/news, by signing up to his newsletter at chriswebbmp.substack.com, and by following him on social media @chriswebbmp.