Chance to see new Anchorsholme Park playground designs year after blaze

Residents will have a first chance to see the designs for Anchorsholme Park’s new playground this week – almost a year after the much-loved play ship was destroyed in an arson attack.

A special public open day is being staged this Friday, over a four-hour period, which will allow residents to find out what will replace the play ship, which was the centrepiece of the play area.

The session is taking place at Anchorsholme Bowling Club, inside the park, from 10am to 2pm.

Blackpool Council is inviting local residents and families to come along, view the new playground designs and find out more about the exciting improvements planned for the park.

As well as the replacement of the playship, destroyed on December 28 last year, the project will see other parts of the existing play area being repaired and restored after a vandalism attack in September.

Manufacture of the new equipment is scheduled throughout the winter, with the playground expected to open in time for Easter 2027.

The playground forms part of a wider programme to transform Anchorsholme Park by Easter, including the reopening of the park café, solar panels for the café, additional CCTV covering the park and promenade, new trees and improved signage.

Councillor Paul Galley, Leader of the Blackpool Conservative Group and Anchorsholme Ward Councillor, said: “This is a big step forward for Anchorsholme Park and really exciting news for our community.

“The destruction of the play ship by arson was a devastating blow, particularly for the children and families who enjoyed it. But we have always been determined to come back stronger and make the park better than before.

“One thing we have really championed throughout this process is making sure local children have a genuine say in the future of their park. Children from Anchorsholme Academy have been heavily involved in the consultation process, giving us fantastic insight into what local children actually want to play on and what they want from their park.

“After all, it is the children who will be using the playground, so their ideas and opinions should be at the heart of its design.

“Our ambition goes far beyond replacing the play ship. We want to see Anchorsholme Park transformed by Easter 2027, with a fantastic new playground, repairs to the existing play equipment, the café back open, solar panels installed, improved CCTV covering the park and promenade, and new trees and signage.

“I would particularly encourage families to come along this Friday between 10am and 2pm. This is a great opportunity to see what is coming to Anchorsholme Park and share in the excitement about its future.

“After a difficult period for the park, we now have a clear vision for its future, and Easter 2027 promises to be an exciting milestone for our community.”

Councillor Anita Cooper, Anchorsholme Ward Councillor, added: “Anchorsholme Park is one of our community’s greatest assets, and we want it to be somewhere families can enjoy, residents can feel proud of and people of all ages can spend time together.

“It’s wonderful to see these improvements moving forward, particularly after the disappointment of losing the play ship. The new playground and wider investment will make a real difference to local families, and I’m looking forward to seeing the park brought back to life.”

In relation to the damage to the playship, two teenagers were arrested and later dealt with through community resolutions rather than prosecution.

This decision was criticised by Cllr Galley, who said it amounted to the youths “getting away with it.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said of the two youths, aged 15 and 16, last month: “When deciding on the community resolution through the Youth Justice System, the age of the offenders and their lack of previous convictions was taken into consideration, so too the facts of the case in that the damage wasn’t caused intentionally.”