Future of heritage tram attraction at serious risk, says councillor

The future of Blackpool’s Tramtown attraction – home to the town’s world-famous heritage trams – is at serious risk, says a leading councillor.

Cllr Paul Galley says Blackpool Council is seeking to demolish the engineering works at Tramtown, including the fitting shop, paint shop and body shop, which he says are at the heart of the visitor attraction.

Tramtown, based at the historic Rigby Road Tram Depot, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Blackpool’s famous heritage trams, their engineering, restoration, and the history of the tramway, with opportunities to see vintage trams and learn about their maintenance in the workshops.

Cllr Galley, who is leader of Blackpool Council’s Conservative opposition group and is also Tramtown’s volunteer coordinator, says the engineering building is so essential to the restoration and public exhibition of the trams that the proposed demolition would effectively kill off Tramtown.

And the councillor, who said he had been given confirmation of the demolition by the Council’s Head of Estates and also Blackpool Transport, said Tramtown volunteers had been kept in the dark about the council proposals.

But Blackpool’s Labour leadership hit back, stating that the heritage trams and the separate building where they are housed are not at any risk.

They say the 90 year old engineering workshed will cost “millions” to restore and if it is demolished, the council would move the display items into the tram shed, which the council is looking to improve with potential funding bids.

Cllr Galley said: “This is a devastating and shocking moment for Blackpool’s heritage.

“Tramtown Blackpool now faces effective closure, with the Council stating there is no longer any ability or intention to maintain the buildings, restore heritage trams, or carry out engineering work. No engineers.

“No engineering. No future. Heritage trams are not obsolete — they are irreplaceable. Yet the paint shop, body shop and fitting shop, the very heart of Tramtown and home to one of Blackpool’s most distinctive visitor attractions, are set to be demolished.

“This is nothing else but cultural vandalism.”

Cllr Galley says that under the Council’s current plans, the heritage trams themselves would remain stored in a deteriorating tram shed which, for now, is expected to remain.

He added: “There would be no restoration, no tours, no public access and no interpretation — just the slow decline of irreplaceable historic vehicles until they are lost forever.”

He says he and other supporters of Tramtown are now calling for the attraction to be protected as an Asset of Community Value, safeguarded in perpetuity for future generations, and he is calling for the public, the heritage sector, the media and local and national representatives to protect it.

But Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Nobody has made a decision on this yet so it’s premature to talk about what could happen here. I’m a big supporter of Tramtown and understand how our heritage trams are a huge part of Blackpool’s tourism appeal and cultural heritage.

“We are always looking at ways to protect that heritage across Blackpool and keep it safe so people can enjoy it for decades to come.

“These buildings are, however, in need of serious work and would need millions of pounds to repair. They are over 90 years old and every storm creates more damage, disruption and cost.

“I don’t think anyone would want us to start spending very significant sums of money on a building that could become a money pit for continual repairs. I should add that none of this discussion is about the heritage trams or the building they are housed in.

“We do have a plan forTramtown and protecting the heritage items by keeping them secure, safe and dry with the heritage trams in the main shed, while we continue to support funding bids for a new Tramtown visitor experience.

“We shared all this background and plan with Tramtown representatives and staff before Christmas but Paul Galley didn’t attend the meeting.”