Councillors clash before tonight’s meeting on Revoe homes

Councillors clashed at a Blackpool Council meeting over controversial proposals to demolish hundreds of homes in the Revoe area as part of a £90m regeneration scheme.

The project came up for discussion at the authority’s full council meeting last night, prior to a public meeting tonight in Revoe.

Blackpool Council says areas of the town urgently need better housing and the authority plans to transform a large area of the Revoe ward, off Central Drive by knocking down “poor housing” and replacing the stock with new homes.

But it has provoked controversy because many of the presidents want to keep their homes and are worried about where they will go.

And although exact numbers have not been fully confirmed, concerns have been raised that the number of new homes proposed – said to be 230 – appears to be less than thse being knocked down.

Where will residents go?

Cllr Paul Galley, leader of Blackpool Council’s Conservative opposition, addressed Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of the council, and said: ”Given that around 430 homes in the Revoe area are proposed for demolition, with no funding to deliver replacement homes, can the Leader state where residents are expected to go?

“The right to return is essential in a place where we’re offering residents just meagre crumbs to try and find another home and no promises on where they’ll go.

“Will the Council Leader attend the public meeting in Revoe and listen to their stories on how it will affect them?”

Cllr Wlliams said she was unable to attend this time but would be there at the next meeting, and added: “The Council doesn’t own these properties in that area, we can’t give that right to return.

“We absolutely understand the upset and concern that this raises for residents,and we’re doing everything we can to speak to them and give them that support.”

Cllr Galley asked if either of her two deputies would be attending the meeting, instead the event just being attended by council officers

He said“It’s important we just don’t send officers. You need to be at this meeting, look them in the eye and tell them it’s a good thing.”

Combat mininfornation

Cllr Neal Brookes, Deputy Leader, who is the Chair of the Board for Blackpool Coastal Housing and Blackpool Housing Company : “I’m normally allowed  to speak on things like this, being chairman of the housing company.

“I can’t attend the meeting either, because I have a prior engagement, but I’m not afraid to speak to the people of Revoe.

“I’ll tell them the truth, and I’ll offer them reassurance that this project will take three to five years. We’re going over and above to avoid Compulsory Purchase Orders to clear that area.

“I will combat the lies and innuendo being spread by the people in that area by with vested interests, the private landlords seeking to maintain their yield from exorbitant rents simply to protect their income streams.

“The people living in them, we’ll look after them with the pledge that no one will be made homeless. We are looking to regenerate Blackpool and we’re not going to apologise for that.

He told Cllr Galley: “Rather tahn stirring and making wild accusations at open meetings, where misinformation is being spread, what you should have said is that they will get the chance to consult again when the planning application goes in, in March.

“It’s a scandal what’s happening with these private landlords. We’re taking them on and hopefully people will engage with the planning consultation and not argue over misinformation”

The public meeting, organised by community group Revoe Together, is being staged at the Ibbison Court Community Centre, on Ibbison Court off Central Drive toniught (Thursday January 29) at 7.30pm.