Blackpool MP Advocates for Indoor Arena on Former Development Site

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has proposed that Blackpool should follow Manchester’s example by constructing an indoor concert arena. Mr. Webb stated his support for this concept, which has received considerable backing from residents on social media, particularly after the collapse of plans for a £300 million leisure complex at the Central Station site. The company responsible for the £300 million regeneration project entered administration last month. Previous proposals for the site, including the development of a super-casino, have also not materialized. However, buildings such as the former police station and magistrates court are still slated for demolition, indicating the site’s imminent complete clearance. A multi-storey car park with 1,306 spaces commenced operations on the land in May of this year. Mr. Webb raised the uncertainty surrounding the development during business questions in the House of Commons. He also expressed his hope to engage in discussions with Lisa Nandy, the Culture, Media and Sport minister. He informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “There is a big push from residents who would like to see a state-of-the-art arena built in Blackpool, and I want to explore how the government could work with the private sector.“We have seen how transformative the Co-op Arena has been in Manchester and everyone I have spoken to has raised the idea of having an indoor arena in Blackpool.“It would be something on that site that doesn’t compete with other tourism offers, there is parking there already and road links straight in from Yeadon Way. “However it is going to need a bit of public investment and I am looking at how the Co-op Arena was funded.” Mr. Webb stated that despite competition from existing major arenas in Manchester and Liverpool, he believed there would be sufficient demand for such a development in Blackpool. He further commented: “Blackpool has shown it attracts massive footfall for big events held here and if you look at the area right up to the Lakes, there isn’t a venue like this.“It could hold events including concerts, comedy and sports and we need something like this for our tourism.”