South Promenade has undergone a major transformation
Summer 2006
Building Blackpool
* Completion of the transformation of a key gateway into the town - Central Corridor. As part of the scheme the George Bancroft Memorial Park, the first park to be built in Blackpool since Stanley Park in 1926, opened in March 2006.
* Construction of the new Blackpool Resort Enterprise Centre at the former Lido Pool site has commenced. This will provide business incubator accommodation and managed workspace, together with associated support services and is due to be completed in March 2007.
* Illuminations won the National Lighting Design Award for the Mirror Ball Lighting.
* South promenade successfully transformed, and the £62 million Sea Defence Wall between the north and south piers is progressing well, on-time and to budget.
* The Labour Council has successfully secured £11.8m to undertake emergency repairs to the tramway as part of its £88m for the transformation of the tramway and work will commence in November 2006.
* Construction work is well underway to build an extension of the Hounds Hill (phase one extension) shopping centre, and the Debenhams anchor store will open in 2008. The developer has also obtained planning permission for a second phase development incorporating a town centre hotel.
Vulnerable People
* Care and Repair service awarded the quality mark.
* Winners of the most improved carer of the year category in the Care Worker of the Year National Awards.
* A recent inspection of Social Service for Older People concluded that overall services had reached the point where most people were well served. That the council was moving forward and the capacity for further improvement was promising.
* There has been a 20% increase in the number of adults and older people receiving direct payments.
Children and Young People
* New Devonshire School opened.
* Increase in pupils achieving 5+ GCSE Grades A*-C from 40.7% to 48.6%.
* Permanent Exclusions down.
* Teenage conception rates down.
Streetscene
* The Department of Transport have approved the Council’s expression of interest for £28.5m PFI credit to replace 80% of street lighting and 40% of traffic signal infrastructure.
* NEAT initiative awarded highly commended in Sustainable Community Awards, Feb 2006.
All this - and more - whilst keeping the Council Tax the lowest in Lancashire.