Fair compensation demands for displaced residents

A worried resident says he is struggling to find a new home as a council looks to acquire land for a proposed multiversity, forcing residents to move out of the area.

Planning inspector Phillip Ware will oversee an eight-day public inquiry into a compulsory purchase order (CPO) which Blackpool Council is seeking to clear land for the project.

The council has already acquired 70% of the site between Cookson Street, Milbourne Street, George Street and Grosvenor Street but 13 objections to the CPO have been submitted, triggering the public inquiry.

One resident said he had been looking for another home in the town centre "for months" but cannot find anything suitable.

The resident, of George Street, who did not want to be named, said he felt very worried that they were in the CPO area and would have to move.

"We're both disabled, we've got a mentally ill child, no one's helping us, we're in the dark," he said.

The man, who has lived in the town centre street for 10 years, said: "We were supposed to be out by August, there's houses being boarded up, everyone's leaving one by one, we don't feel safe with empty property either side of us.

"This is a rented property and the landlord wants us out so he can sell, he's got no interest in us at all, were just a figure in his head now."

He said the family had been looking for another home in the town centre "for months".

"We can't find anywhere," he said. "There's nowhere in our budget and there's nothing available for what we need.

"We've good memories here, so it's a shame that we've got to go.

"We've got everything here, we've got the dentist here, the doctor there, the child's school's just over here and all the shops."

Jeweller Andrew Clayton said hearing about the CPO left him "surprised".

"We were looking forward to the new building over the road with a catchment for lunchtime spending and we were looking to redevelop the premises we had," he said.

The business recently had to move to Topping Street from Cookson Street after 61 years due to the multiversity plans.

"I don't think the council understand the costings it takes to move into another shop with security and the bespoke displays," Mr Clayton said. "We funded it all ourselves.

"We are closer to town so we are experiencing more footfall, but there was the benefit on Cookson Street of several parking bays."

Nick Gerrard, growth and prosperity manager at the council, told a recent meeting of the tourism, economy and communities scrutiny committee that the council had to show the CPO was in the public interest with fair compensation given to those who were displaced.

Some objections have been withdrawn as negotiations continue to buy up property, with the hearing set to hear evidence from remaining objectors and the council.

The public inquiry will take place at The Imperial Hotel on North Promenade, from 12 to 15 November.

It is then due to re-open from 3 to 6 December, although if all the evidence has been heard it could close sooner.

The inspector will consider all the evidence before publishing his decision which is expected to be some time early in the new year.

Members of the public can attend the hearing.

If the decision enables the CPO to proceed, it is hoped work will begin on the project in May or June next year, providing all the site has been assembled.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.