Street party in Blackpool's Revoe area shows community spirit, say campaigners

Residents who live in the Revoe area of Blackpool staged a street party at the weekend to celebrate the community spirit in the area.

Some 300 homes off Central Drive, within the so-called red line zone, have been earmarked for demolition as part of a regeneration scheme for the area.

The Blackpool Central Housing Regeneration Area Framework project will also see 230 new houses being built to replace those to be knocked down.

Blackpool Council says it is part of a 15-year master plan to transform the inner town into a more sustainable, vibrant neighbourhood.

It argues that the project, which has now been submitted to the planning department, will eradicate poor housing in the area and make it a better place to live in.

But many do not want to see their houses demolished.

The street party was held on Rydal Avenue but was open to Revoe residents and included sandwiches, a raffle , ice cream and a chance to relax and chat.

Community activist William Banks was one several coordinators of the event over the weekend, and said: “Many people who live in the Revoe area say one of the best things about it is the sense of community spirit.

“At the weekend we had held a beautiful day to celebrate that and I saw real community in action.

“Unfortunately if this scheme to bulldoze these homes goes ahead, it will rip the heart out of the community.”

Mr Banks said his grandmother lived in the area and he was the descendent of a former mayor of Blackpool, Edward Stephenson, who represented the Revoe ward back in the 1930s.

He added: “When you have lived in a house for a number of years, you make it your home.

“You have all your memories there and you get to know the people around you.

“It’s clear that people want to fight to keep their homes and keep their community alive.”

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said of the housing project: “People have been telling us for decades that we need to do something about Central Drive and the surrounding area – and this is exactly what we plan to do.

“We have been given a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to transform one of the areas most in need of regeneration in Blackpool.

“The area is the third most deprived in the country and doing nothing is not an option. Smaller schemes have been tried before and have failed – this area and the people who live here deserve something transformational.

“I completely understand that this is difficult for residents who are now looking to move but I want to reassure everybody that there is a full support team to help them find somewhere suitable to live and be compensated for the disruption.

“If that involves staying local, then we will try everything to make that happen.”