Chief faces grilling on Facebook

There's a rare chance for residents to grill the leader of Blackpool Council tomorrow night (Thursday), via social media.
Blackpool Council leader, Coun Simon Blackburn, is to hold a question and answer session with residents via Facebook.Blackpool Council leader, Coun Simon Blackburn, is to hold a question and answer session with residents via Facebook.
Blackpool Council leader, Coun Simon Blackburn, is to hold a question and answer session with residents via Facebook.

For the first time since he came leader, Coun Simon Blackburn is to take part in a question and answer session on Facebook Live, via the council’s home page.

The session begins at 6.30pm and is expected to last around half an hour.

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A Blackpool Council spokesman said: “This is an opportunity for people who want to know more about how Blackpool is changing over the next few years.

“They will be able to ask about the future of the town, how decisions are made and how they can get involved more.”

Coun Blackburn’s invitation comes at a time of significant development for the town, with considerable investment being made.

Ambitious projects such as a new conference centre, tramway extension and globally branded hotels look set to dramatically change the face of the resort.

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But works such as the tramway extension have come with less welcome side effects, with significant traffic disruption affecting drivers trying to get across town each morning.

Facebook Q&A sessions have become a popular means for leading community figures to engage with the public.

Police inspectors across Lancashire are already using this platform to directly answer some of the most pressing questions from the public.

It is not yet known if Coun Blackburn’s session will be repeated – the council says that may be determined by how well tonight’s outing goes.