In the four years to May 2007, Blackpool’s Labour Council has…
...... For Re-Building Blackpool
- Completed the transformation of a key gateway into the town - the Central Corridor. As part of that scheme, the George Bancroft Memorial Park, the first park to be built in Blackpool since Stanley Park in 1926, opened in March 2006.
- Constructed at the former Lido Pool on Lytham Road the new Blackpool Resort Enterprise Centre to provide business incubator accommodation and managed workspace.
- Won the National Lighting Design Award for the Mirror Ball Lighting.
- Built the £62 million Sea Defence Wall between North and South Piers, on time and on budget.
- Secured £11.8 million from the Government to undertake emergency repairs to the tramway as part of the planned £88 million spend for its transformation.
- Brought about a massive investment in Hounds Hill Shopping Centre with the new Debenham's Department Store due to open next spring.
...... for Aiding Vulnerable People
- Been awarded the national Quality Mark for the 'Care and Repair' service.
- Won the 'Most Improved Carer Council of the Year' distinction in the national awards for Social Services Departments.
- Reached the point in service development where most 'most people' (according to the Social Services Inspectorate) are 'well served' with 'promising scope for further improvement'.
- Increased by 20% the number of vulnerable adults receiving direct payments.
...... For Assisting Children and Young People
- Opened the new Devonshire School.
- Increased to 49% the number of pupils scoring 5 or more GCSE Grades A*- C.
- Managed downwards the number of pupils permanently excluded.
- Helped through informing and educating to bring about fewer teenage pregnancies.
...... For Improvement of the Street Scene
- Obtained approval from the Department of Transport for the replacement of Blackpool's street lighting and its traffic lights control systems at a cost of £30 million, back streets to be included.
- Been 'highly commended' in the national Sustainable Community Awards, 2006 for the NEAT initiative.
...... For Safer & Stronger Neighbourhoods
- Established a Neighbourhood Improvement Division and appointed an Assistant Director for Neighbourhood Improvement.
- Took action in partnership with the Police to produce a continuing decline in crime.
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Won approval recently from Government for Blackpool to be a Respect Action Area with stronger powers to combat anti-social behaviour.
...... For Culture and Leisure
- Invested £8.5 million in the superb,landmark Palatine Leisure Centre
- Built the first new library in forty years at the Palatine site and expanded Layton Library
- Created 23 Multi Use Games Area in schools and parks at a cost of £2.6 million
- Restored Stanley Park at a cost of £4.5 million
- Begun the process for recognition by UNESCO of Blackpool's place as a World Heritage Site as the world's very first mass tourism centre
All this while keeping the Council Tax the lowest in Lancashire ever since you elected Labour to make things happen in our town.
Labour. It isn't for the richest of us. It's for all of us.