Public inquiry to be heard tomorrow over proposals for rides at South Pier

A public inquiry is to be staged tomorrow to decide on Blackpool Pier Company’s appeal against Blackpool Council’s decision to reject plans for new rides on South Pier.

The hearing, taking place at Blackpool Town Hall in Talbot Square, is expected to last one day.

The appeal comes after the proposals for new rides scheme were rejected on two occasions by Blackpool planners.

Back in September, Blackpool Pier Company’s application for planning permission for the siting of two rides – a Log Flume and a Starflyer – on either side of South Pier Headland area, was rejected.

Two months later in November, a new application, this time for a Certificate of Proposed Lawfulness (CLOPED) for the siting of two rides, was also refused.

Blackpool Pier Company argued that the rides would prove a major attraction and help boost tourism, and that money raised from them would be vital in helping to repair and maintain all three piers,

But in rejecting the CLOPED application on December 17, the planning head argued that the application constituted ‘development’ and would need full planning permission. The bid for the CLOPED was consequently refused on those grounds.

Now an appeal hearing, concerning both failed applications, is to be determined by the Planning Inspectorate after the pier company launched an appeal.

Blackpool Pier Company is arguing that Blackpool Council has been “disingenuous” in refusing a CLOPED for the South Pier plans while allowing the authorty’s own “similar” proposals for the annual Christmas by the Sea attraction close to North Pier.

A statement to the Inspectorate says: “The Council in the officer’s report contend that there is a material difference between the applications where they granted themselves permission and this appeal application.

“The officer’s report contends that the granting of permission was for a use of land and operational development. “However, the facts of the case in the form of the application form, the officer’s report and most importantly of all, the decision notice, do not support the Council’s position.

“To have submitted, assessed and approved an application for a ‘use of land’ for themselves as a Council in the wider context, it is somewhat disingenuous now for the Council to argue that the proposal now before the Inspector is not a use of land but operational development.”

Blackpool Council, which argues that the rides would be inappropriate for the site at South Pier, contends that the Blackpool Pier Company’s application for the two rides and the Christmas by the Sea proposals were not the same and therefore had different outcomes.

A statement in support of Blackpool Council’s case says: “The Council will explain how an application for one form of development on one site will axiomatically be considered differently to an application for a different form of development on a different site.”

The inspector will hear legal arguments for both sides before making a decision.