Safety concerns as colourful pavements designed by children ‘encourages kids near the road’

A mile of colourful shapes painted on the pavement has been described as both an ‘eyesore’ and ‘fabulous’ by readers - while others have raised concerns about the safety of encouraging children to play near the road.

Adele Joanne Walker expressed concern that she had witnessed ‘kids playing too close to the road’ since the bright blobs appeared. She added: “Only takes one of them to miss the edge of the kerb and be in the road.”

‘Encourages kids playing near the road’

Michelle Carter suggested it would have been more appropriate to ‘have been painted in a nice dedicated safe playground for the children not on the side of a road’.

Others have raised the question about how ‘slippy’ the paintings will get during icy weather.

“Just seen some of these by Blackpool Library” says Nicola Stott. “These are already slippy as they are, imagine the accidents once they are icy.”

Designed by children

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.

The idea for the project came from children and young people at Claremont’s Magic Club - a youth club that was founded by Blackpool Council’s leader, Lynn Williams.

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.

Chris Webb, the MP for Blackpool South helped secure £200,000 Government funding to deliver the project.

£200,000 fund for the community

However, some residents think the money could have been ‘spent better’.

Kyle Prince ‘disagrees’ with the spending. “I’m not against children having a voice...but I’d argue that £200,000 could deliver far more tangible benefits elsewhere.

Community pride matters, absolutely, but pride also comes from having safe parks, decent facilities and properly maintained public spaces.”

The Dudley Hotel Blackpool said money should have been spent on ‘things that actuality improves the lives of children, making the place safer, like CCTV, tiding up the area and [fixing] pot holes.”

Peter Booth says he would prefer the streets to be ‘clean’ rather than ‘decorating them’, adding: “I’m sure those colourful blobs on the pavement will offset the fly-tipped rubbish rather nicely!”

‘Waste of public money’

This follows claims from Claremont’s Reform UK candidate, Mark Rabjohns, that the project is a ‘waste of public money’.

“Mr Rabjohns said: “Claremont is a very deprived area and just up the road there is a play area that is practically falling to pieces.

“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.”

Paintings ‘bring joy’ to kids

But some have praised the designs, saying they ‘bring joy’ to kids, and ‘make the streets brighter and more welcoming’.

Phill Hollis, who lives in Claremont with his daughter, says: “These pieces were designed by local children, for local children, to make our streets feel welcoming. Claremont is a great community, and our kids deserve to enjoy where they live. Also as an adult they made me smile when they suddenly appeared. We can’t fix up every owned home that’s fronts are in disrepair but we can create streets that are inviting to our children.”

Jennifer Emmess said: “Funded with a specific pot for making Blackpool a nicer place to live. Why not make the streets brighter and more welcoming?”

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.

‘We listened and acted’

Blackpool Council Leader Lynn Williams, who is also a 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.”