Fears rundown building could collapse

Fears have been raised that a rundown building in a seaside resort could collapse unless there was investment in the area.

Blackpool councillor Diane Mitchell called the former Hartes building in South Shore a "complete eyesore".

She added the building, on the corner of Waterloo Road and Bond Street, showed why the town needed investment.

The government said it was working with the council to help realise Blackpool's economic potential.

Mrs Mitchell told a meeting of the full council that it was important to work with the owner of the building "before what remains collapses".

Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said he had raised in Parliament 15 times the importance of regenerating Bond Street, Central Drive and Central Drive/Revoe.

He said he would be urging the government "once again to award the funding we so badly need".

Levelling up minister Simon Hoare said the government wanted to realise Blackpool's "immense economic potential" by seeing "safer and better" homes built in "well-designed neighbourhoods".

These would "help to attract and retain skilled residents in the town", Mr Hoare added.

In response to councillor Mitchell’s concerns, councillor Mark Smith, cabinet member for levelling up place, said: "We want to transform the whole town but unfortunately some bids restrict us to the town centre".

"But where we can get investment and funding we will spread it across the town to where it is needed most," he added.

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