Blackpool 'death trap abandoned for months' is blamed on CONCRETE shortage due to the pandemic

The barrier began crumbling in February when storm Ciara hit, while further sections have been damaged by vandalism and shifting ground.

But not all of the damaged sections have been fixed -- with the apparent shortage to blame.

Plastic temporary barriers have been fitted but keep blowing over, with local councillor Danny Scott branding them an eyesore in a prominent position between the larger tableau-style Illuminations and the overhead lights opposite Carlin Gate.

And, with the area left in darkness on a night while tourists are busy taking in the Lights, safety concerns have also been raised.

Coun Tony Williams, the Conservative opposition leader at the town hall, said the gap is a "potential death trap".

"Anyone walking along this stretch of Promenade in the evening could quite easily fall through this unfenced area and drop some distance to the lower Prom, which could prove fatal."

Coun Scott said he has been battling to get the barrier repaired for eight months - with work starting and then finishing abruptly.

He said: "I got an answer to say the same firm that deals with it has not been able to get more material to mend the fencing because of Covid.

"I would not have thought it would be that difficult.

"It's supposed to be a holiday resort and we are not able to look after it.

"It's been a temporary measure all year but it should have been sorted months ago ready for the holiday season."

The bust fence, which is just north of the old boating lake and opposite the Genting Casino, was also reported to the council by a resident, who remained anonymous, in mid-August.

That report said the temporary barrier was "getting battered by the wind" and asked: "When can the main barrier be fixed?"

After being contacted by The Gazette, the council said it now expects to carry out repairs next week.

The main reason for the barriers breaking was the corroding steel bars inside the concrete, it is understood.

Repairs were started but stock ran out, with an order placed before lockdown was implemented.

A small local firm has been used for around 20 years and can produce six panels a week when fully staffed.

"As you can appreciate, materials - not only these panels but all other materials, including the main suppliers of Tarmac, concrete, cement, etc - have been problematic to acquire at the best of times," one worker said.

The authority now hopes to build up a bigger stock to avoid a repeat, with the worker adding: "This being the only incident where demand far outstripped the resource - Covid had a big part to play.

"Hopefully if we can generate a decent stockpile, this should not happen again."

A council spokesman said: "Following damage caused in February by storm Ciara, we attended the site and installed temporary barriers to ensure the safety of the area in question.

"The impact of the lockdown affected our supply of materials for the replacement panels, however we now have plans in place to carry out repairs and have arranged to obtain a more substantial supply in the event that we need to replace any further panels in future."