Survey will protect our historic sites

Heritage guardians have been out and about in Blackpool surveying the resort's most historic buildings.
Members of Blackpool Civic Trust carrying out their survey of listed buildings in the townMembers of Blackpool Civic Trust carrying out their survey of listed buildings in the town
Members of Blackpool Civic Trust carrying out their survey of listed buildings in the town

Volunteers from Blackpool Civic Trust have undertaken training in order to be able to check out the condition of 31 Grade II listed structures which range from the Salvation Army Citadel to a sun dial at Bispham Parish Church.

It is hoped the work will help preseve the landmarks for years to come.

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Joan Humble, chairman of Blackpool Civic Trust, said: “We have been carrying out a project to assess the external condition of Grade II listed buildings in Blackpool.

“We want to ensure we understand the condition of our historic buildings.

“Among those we have looked at include the Ibis (formerly The Clifton Hotel), the Promenade shelters, the war memorial and the chapel at Layton Cemetery.

“Once we’ve done this we intend to start on the 300 locally listed buildings in Blackpool, so that we have a record and we can share that record with the council.”

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The Trust has already highlighted concerns about the exterior of the Clifton Hotel and owner Brook Leisure is hoping to invest in the building.

Earlier this year members of the Blackpool Civic Trust also completed a survey of all the town’s war memorials.

Mrs Humble added: “We were the first Civit Trust to complete the conditions survey and register them all on a national website run by the Imperial War Museum and the War Memorial Trust.”

Other projects in the pipeline involving members include an initiative to work with the council to look at de-cluttering the number of street signs in the town centre.