Housing plans welcomed by schools' trust

The trust, which runs Blackpool secondary schools Unity, Aspire, and Montgomery, hopes the boost in population will help land it government approval for a new school for both primary and secondary-aged pupils somewhere in South Shore.

Persimmon Homes has applied to build a 353-home estate towards the north end of the former Pontin’s holiday camp on Clifton Drive North, just south of Starr Gate.

As reported in yesterday’s Gazette, the barren 10-hectare patch of land will be home to two, three, and four-bedroomed properties if it wins planning permission.

FCAT chief executive officer Felicity Greeves said: “This latest proposed housing development is clearly what is needed for families and couples wishing to make the Fylde coast their home.

“FCAT is working hard to support government housing initiatives and to ensure the future needs of families are being met by our ambitions to build a quality, local ‘through-school’ for South Shore and St Annes youngsters aged from two to 16.”

At least £100,000 will be pumped into redeveloping St Annes town centre as part of the deal, while Persimmon will also give money to school places, Fylde Council said.

But concern has been raised about the impact almost 600 vehicles would have on the busy Clifton Drive North.

Persimmon said a traffic survey has been carried out, which showed the site is well-served by public transport.

CRIME WARNING FOR DEVELOPMENT AFTER BREAK-INS AND VANDALISM

Lancashire Police said anti-crime measures should be put in place to deter vandals and burglars at the proposed development.

Rachel Emmett, who works with councils to help ‘design out crime’, said 66 burglaries, 26 vehicle offences, and 70 acts of criminal damage happened in the area in the past 12 months.

They include a burglar reaching inside a nearby home through a cat-flap and unlocking the door, yobs scratching cars and pushing over gates, and vandals stabbing car tyres.

The architectural liaison officer has advised several security measures, including latches on ground floor windows to stop people climbing through them, and tall fences.