Community union offers to help Blackpool’s Revoe residents worried over homes demolition plan

Residents worried over plans to demolish homes in Blackpool’s Revoe area as part of a controversial regeneration plan have been offered help by a national community union group.

Members of the Acorn union attended a meeting of residents at the Ibbotson Court Community Centre, where concerns were expressed about where residents would live if the demolition plans went ahead.

Although Blackpool Council says there are plans to build new houses, some residents are worried if they will be able to afford them and where they will be located.

The council proposals, aimed at removing poor housing stock and replacing it with new homes, are expected to be submitted to the planning department in March.

The council is looking to bulldoze between 300 and 400 homes on several streets off Central Drive and replace them with modern housing, using a £90m grant previously awarded by former Conservative minister Michael Gove as part of the then government’s Homes England agenda.

It is understood that not all that money will be used on re-building, as other costs of the scheme will be incurred,

Alana Cooper, of Acorn, said: “We have taken on challenges on behalf of residents, involving landlords, councils and big organisations in places like Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool and nearby in Preston.

“We believe refurbishment of existing homes is possible, without the need for demolition.

“My family has big links to Blackpool and we nearly all lived in Revoe. I’ve seen how the area has gone down and down. It used to be a badge of honour to live here.

“We’ll do all we can to stop this from happening.”

She said residents had the opportunity to join the Acorn union, for a low membership fee.

Concern was expressed about how residents from low income households would be able to fork out extra money to do so, but other residents were supportive of the move.

Ms Cooper said: “It will be a small and affordable amount. By joining us you will be able to benefit from experience and expertise to work on your behalf. This doesn’t need to happen.”

The residents living in Revoe do not all have the same situation. Some are renting, others are home owners still paying large mortgages, others are people who have lived in their homes for decades and have paid off their mortgages.

While suggestions have been made that some landlords are charging too much, other landlords say they look after their tenants.

Landlord Tony Chapman said: “There are some good landlords around here, we know there are some not so good landlords in Blackpool. It feels like good ones here are being punished.”

One resident, who did not want to be named, said he was still paying a mortgage and had been offered a sum by Blackpool Council which would not cover the cost of buying.

He said: “I’ve worked out the figures and it won’t be enough. If we lose our house, it will be a disaster for us. We’re really worried.”

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said some of the criticism of Blackpool Council was unfair, particularly about where large scale money was being spent.

He said: “I hear the frustration in the room but the council is not in a position to do what it used to do – we’ve seen £ 1.8 billion taken from this town through austerity cuts by the previous government.

“The pots of money which has seen, for example the Ministry of Defence building being built in Blackpool could not have been used for anything else. I know things are tough but they are the right decisions for this town.

“If you can join the union they will advocate for you, I endorse what they say.

“I would also say that more residents need to engage with the council, ask questions and let them know what your concerns are.”

Rev Matt Lockwood, who chaired the meeting on behalf of Revoe Together, said another meeting would be arranged in the near future.