Traffic fears dismissed as Blackpool housing plan approved

The council’s planning committee narrowly approved the scheme for land including the former Bispham High School site in North Shore by five votes to four.

Greenlands ward councillor Rick Scott, representing more than 50 residents who had objected to the application, said many roads in the area were already at capacity.

He argued building more houses would only make congestion on key routes such as Bispham Road worse, while turning onto Devonshire Road from Regency Gardens was already difficult due to busy traffic conditions.

Coun Scott said: “There are large volumes of traffic passing through Greenlands ward and funnelling into Bispham Road which is already at capacity.”

He added: “Most of the residents of Greenlands ward understand new houses have to be built, as do I. But not at the expense of daily life.”

Council highways chief Latif Patel said roads in the area could cope with additional traffic but said traffic calming measures were being considered, including a new crossing on Warbreck Hill Road.

He said since new traffic systems were implemented at the Plymouth Road roundabout, the number of complaints about congestion on Bispham Road had reduced.

The committee approved the application in principle and delegated final approval to head of planning Susan Parker because an outstanding objection remains from Sport England.

It has objected to the loss of playing fields at the school which closed in 2015.

But Ms Parker said the council had now published a new playing fields strategy which showed how sports pitches would be replaced, including with a £200,000 new football pitch at Stanley Park.

Once Sport England is consulted on the new strategy, it is expected to withdraw its objection.

The revised application, which has been made by the council, shows access to around 120 properties from Bispham Road with a further 56 approached from Regency Gardens, whereas previous plans showed access split evenly between both routes.

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