New roads named after Blackpool’s aviation history

Two new roads at a major Blackpool business park expansion have been named by local school children.

The roads are expected to open later this year at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, as part of Blackpool Council's £18.5m expansion designed to create more jobs in the area.

The two new road names were picked by school children at nearby St Nicholas Church of England Primary School. The names follow the area’s tradition of roads being named along an aviation theme.

A new main road connecting Common Edge Road with the current business park at Amy Johnson Way will be named as Vickers Way.

The Vickers-Wellington Bomber factory was built during the Second World War and manufactured over 2,000 Wellington Bombers between 1940 and 1945. The original factory still stands today on Squires Gate Lane.

The name was suggested by Year 6 pupil Bethan Lowe. She said: “It’s amazing to have my road name picked – I feel on top of the world!”

A new residential road connecting Vickers Way with Oakwood Close has also been named as Hallett Avenue.

Flight Lieutenant Austin Hallett MBE was well decorated for his efforts during the Second World War including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross and French Legion of Honour medal.

After 30 years in the RAF, taking part in over 30 bombing raids including on D-Day, Flt Lt Hallett retired to run a post office in South Shore before moving to School Road.

Austin Hallett passed away in 2015 but his daughters Pauline and Jacqueline were able to meet some of the school children from class 5HL who chose to name the road after their father.

Austin Hallett's daughters Pauline and Jacqueline, said: "We were both very surprised and overwhelmed when we heard the plans to use our father’s name for one of the roads. “We think it is wonderful that the schoolchildren found his name and war history and then nominated a road to be named after him. He used to live very near to St Nicholas School and he would be very touched that they thought of him, as are we.”

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment at Blackpool Council, said: “We’re making Blackpool better by expanding the Enterprise Zone and allowing businesses to create new jobs. “We’re also making sure that we don’t forget the area’s history and strong connections with local aviation and Blackpool’s involvement in the war effort. “It has been a great project for local school children to be involved in the naming. Who knows, in ten years’ time, they might even find work on the road that they helped to name.”

Other roads on the business park include Sir Frank Whittle Way and Avroe Crescent, while many buildings in the area are named after planes or pilots, such as Piper Court, Lockheed Court and Canberra Court.