Blackpool Council agrees landaus rule change

When the first two of the novelty rides made their debut, they prompted controversy due to their departure from the traditional Victorian-style landaus.

But in the decade since alternative styles of cabs were introduced, 25 have been licensed meaning more than half Blackpool’s 44-strong famous landau fleet are now non-traditional carriages.

Since 2010 each application for a Cinderella carriage has required the vehicle to be inspected and approved by the council’s public protection sub committee.

This means owners parking their horse and carriage outside the town hall for councillors to come out and examine.

But the committee has now ruled the standard design has become acceptable enough for decisions to be delegated to licensing officers.

Committee chairman Coun Adrian Hutton said: “When we first got the Cinderella carriages on the Prom, the first was just a bit of plastic sheeting held up by bits of wood and it looked appalling and we refused to allow it on the Promenade.

“Since then, a number have come forward and the standard of the carriages has considerably improved.

“We reserved the right to decide each one but we now have that many on the Promenade that it’s not seen as unusual.”

But Coun Hutton warned if there were doubts of the suitability of a new carriage, the application would still have to come before the committee.

Lee Petrak, the council’s trading standards and licensing manager, said it would not be economical for applicants to compete for business if they did not put forward a carriage which met the correct standards.

Many operators have introduced Cinderella carriages to meet demand for a “fairytale experience”, but still offer rides in traditional landaus distinguished by their folding hoods.

The first Cinderellas were approved in September 2010 by councillors.

All the council’s landau fleet is inspected annually with council officers checking the mechanical standard of the carriage, while vets check the health and welfare of the horses.

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