Local councillors deferred the application for the coastal defences after receiving more than 60 objections, notably from rescue services highlighting hazards for tourists and emergency crews. In response, multi-agency workshops and safety protocol reviews are underway to address these operational and rescue concerns. Resolving the dispute is urgent because post-April 2026 Environment Agency rules will eliminate 100% government funding and require a 10% council contribution. Should the Blackpool and Bispham Beach Management schemes ultimately win approval, construction is targeted to start in early 2027.
Key points
Blackpool Council risks a £13m capital liability if the scheme misses current 100% govern…: Blackpool Council risks a £13m capital liability if the scheme misses current 100% government funding terms before April 2026.
Multi-agency workshops are actively reviewing rescue protocols to address serious tourist…: Multi-agency workshops are actively reviewing rescue protocols to address serious tourist and emergency service safety challenges.
Consultations with business leaders and residents remain active while the council fulfill…: Consultations with business leaders and residents remain active while the council fulfills its statutory duty to safeguard the shoreline.
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- Published
A verdict has not been reached over whether controversial coastal defences will be built in Blackpool.
Councillors have deferred a major planning application for 17 groynes after the RNLI made a formal objection to building of the groynes in April.
The charity previously claimed the council had ignored safety issues they had flagged, such as increased risk to tourists and rescue crews.
Blackpool Council has a statutory duty to deliver schemes to protect the coastline. It said if the proposals fall through, a new scheme would require a council contribution of £13m due to changes in government funding.
The proposed defences would see manmade rock headlands built on the beach to trap sand and prevent the loss of the town's sandy beaches. But since the application, more than 60 objections have been made.
But after the Blackpool beach management scheme was deferred by the council's planning committee last month, further discussions have been held regarding the risk assessments for the RNLI operations.
Since several multi-agency meetings and workshops have and are planned to discuss the risk assessment required…
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