Former leader will be remembered 'in the history of Blackpool'

Further tributes have been paid to former Blackpool Council leader Coun Peter Callow who died in hospital on Tuesday.
Coun Peter Callow with dignitaries including Gordon Marsden celebrate the deal to buy assets including Blackpool Tower in 2010Coun Peter Callow with dignitaries including Gordon Marsden celebrate the deal to buy assets including Blackpool Tower in 2010
Coun Peter Callow with dignitaries including Gordon Marsden celebrate the deal to buy assets including Blackpool Tower in 2010

Former Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden, who represented the constituency for Labour until losing the seat last December, recalled working with Coun Callow to seal the £40m deal to buy the Tower and Winter Gardens.

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Town mourns death of leader who 'bought Blackpool Tower'

“It took great courage to pledge £20m that the council put together as part of the buy-out deal at that time.

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“If we hadn’t put the deal together, then I think the outlook for the town in terms of regeneration would have been far more difficult to achieve.

“The Tower and Winter Gardens are absolutely iconic to Blackpool, and Peter saw that straight away.

“In the history of Blackpool he will have a very honoured mention.”

Long-time friend and council colleague Coun Don Clapham said Coun Callow’s death was a huge loss to Blackpool.

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He said: “He was an excellent group leader, as well as council leader. He was also very loyal to his constituents and made a great team working with Maxine.

“He is going to be an enormous loss to Norbreck. Everyone will miss him as he had everyone’s respect.”

Coun Callow was council leader between 2007 and 2011, and made the decision to buy assets including the Tower, Winter Gardens and Golden Mile Centre in 2010 when they were facing uncertain futures under the ownership of leisure entrepreneur Trevor Hemmings.

He died, aged 81, in Blackpool Victoria Hospital, leaving his wife Maxine, who is also a Blackpool councillor, and daughter Nancy.

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Coun Callow also served as Mayor of Blackpool between 2015 and 2016.

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