Maintenance plan revealed for Blackpool Tower steelwork this winter

The council, which has owned the Grade 1 listed Tower since 2010, is seeking a contractor to carry out the work.

It is expected it will be completed towards the end of March next year in time for Easter.

A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: “This winter we are planning to carry out maintenance work on Blackpool Tower’s steelwork structure.

“This is part of an ongoing programme of maintenance and refurbishment. Once a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work the time scales will be confirmed.”

Documents published on the local authority procurement site The Chest say: “This opportunity is for the provision of remedial works for the maintenance and refurbishment of the Blackpool Tower steel structure which consists of an initial remedial package of works as out lined in the tender documents.

“It is anticipated that this work will commence November 2022 and will be completed by the 24th March 2023, to allow the Tower to operate by Easter 2023.

“The contract may be extended to incorporate other packages of work with the successful bidder.”

The council said it could not put a cost on the work until a contractor had been appointed, and no decision would be taken until then about whether scaffolding would once more be erected.

An eight-year £6m project to repair and repaint the 518ft landmark meant a cradle of scaffold was wrapped around the Tower between 2008 and 2016 while extensive repairs were carried out.

In recent years the council has also invested £200,000 in fitting new external lights to The Tower with a more durable system designed to better withstand weather conditions.

Other significant investment by the council includes spending totalling £1m to repair the ceiling at the historic Tower Circus ahead of the 2022 season, while a £1.1m refurbishment of the Tower Ballroom ceiling was completed in 2021 including a £750,000 government grant.

The Tower is operated by leisure giant Merlin on behalf of the council with attractions including the world famous ballroom, the circus, the viewing platform and the Blackpool Dungeons.