On the 2nd July 2004 on behalf of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the people of the town, I had the honour of launching the “Community Plan Vision” at Blackpool Football Club.  The Vision is an exciting and forward thinking document is a statement of where the public and the LSP see Blackpool in 2020. 

Blackpool’s Action Plan is a vital tool because it ensures that we work in partnership to make Blackpool a better place for people to live, work and visit.  This document outlines actions together with performance measures covering each of our eight objectives that will help to bring about our Vision.  The action plan has a three-year lifespan. These actions are about finding innovative solutions to local issues. For example under our objective “Healthy Lives” we are looking at banning smoking in public places, whereas under “Safer Communities” we will promote responsible drinking by young people.

We are clear about what we want to achieve for Blackpool; we want a Blackpool with prosperity for all, with strong communities, a Blackpool that is clean and safe and where people experience better health and receive an excellent education.  The only way we can achieve this vision of Blackpool is to use the resources we already have in new and innovative ways, and to focus additional resources on the priority areas.

The organisations that make up the LSP – public, private, voluntary and community sectors are determined to tackle the issues facing the town. Whether this means a greater commitment to employing more local people, or looking at the environmental effects of our actions everyone involved in this Community Plan and Blackpool’s Local Strategic Partnership can be working towards our vision of Blackpool through targeted actions.

We are fortunate; we live in a town with a national identity and one that sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat.  Blackpool is a town that is prepared to reinvent itself in order to compete.  The document sets out how we are working on achieving our shared vision and making real difference for everyone in Blackpool.

In three years we can achieve the actions laid out in this document, by completing those actions we will have made real differences in Blackpool.  That will by no means be the end of our task of taking Blackpool forward.  Over the next three years ourselves, and the wider partnerships will be looking to areas we can, and need to, make a difference.  Projects will be developed and delivered, this document collates all the key projects in one place so we can regularly monitor them to assess how well we are moving towards a better Blackpool.

As Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and Leader of Blackpool Council may I thank you for your interest in this document and I urge you to support the excellent work being undertaken by the wider partnerships.

Together we can make Blackpool a better place in which to live, work and visit.

 
Councillor Roy Fisher
Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership