The Blackpool Hotel industry is under fire at the moment with proposed changes to redevelop areas of Blackpool. If approved, roads such as Crystal road and Shaw road in South Shore Blackpool will be demolished and the area re-classified for new businesses or housing. Why are the Blackpool Council shooting themselves in the foot by reducing the town’s capacity for guests?

Well we are no longer in the 1950’s and people do not rent swimming costumes on the promenade anymore. Instead, we have families coming for a day trip or a short break and the volume of holiday makers, although high in numbers against other resort towns, does not warrant the large number of hotels (which run into the thousands!) that Blackpool has on its books.

Why some hotels and not others? Unfortunately, the council cannot change its mind because one hotel on that street decides to stay and is doing a storming trade. Hopefully if the system is fair, they will usually receive a more than fair offer leaving the owners to consider their future about possibly buying another hotel.

For the visitors of Blackpool, the downside is that they will be exposed to continuing development of buildings, sea defences, road layouts for the foreseeable future, but as they walk around the corner, hopefully they will appreciate a new completed structure in front of them.

I would argue with anyone who says that Blackpool does not need this work. To be honest I would love to know where the money has been spent by the council since the boom years of the 50’s. Why is our comparable sister Brighton not in the same position as us? We can’t put it down to the fact that Brighton is closer to London alone?

The website for Reblackpool is designed to explain the various development stages that are in place. For sure some Blackpool Hotels will be closed down and new ones opened increasing the competition, however what it should do is bring an extra boost in trade as new developments entice businesses, new events and new types of guests as well as cater for the existing ones.

Hoteliers that are in the mind set that this should not happen I would love to discuss with, as what is the alternative?