Councillors back Stanley Park golf land move

Blackpool Council’s executive voted unanimously to appropriate the land on East Park Drive for planning purposes ahead of a planning application being submitted to build a £45m Adrenalin World adventure park and up to 250 holiday lodges on the east side of the site.

This would mean the loss of the 18 hole municipal golf course, but nine holes would be retained and upgraded, along with the clubhouse on the west side.

Public consultation including details of environmental impact assessments to be carried out at the site on East Park Drive, attracted 288 objections mainly to the loss of open space.

But councillors said the scheme would bring jobs to the town, while retaining access to the land.

Coun Neal Brookes said the council had had no choice but to seek a leisure developer after both it and a private contractor had failed to make the golf course financially viable.

He said: “We are in danger of being cast as villains, and all we are trying to do here is get the best solution for everybody given the failure of the golf course to be run as a viable venture.”

He added the council was committed to supporting the community “but can’t continue to subsidise it (the course) year on year.”

Coun Kath Benson said currently the land was not accessible to everyone.

She added: “We are going to create a development that is going to be a worthwhile addition to Blackpool, that will be used by visitors and residents alike.

“It’s a vast space which the majority of people in Blackpool have never been to before.

“We are not taking anything away, we are enhancing what we already have.”

Holmes Investment Properties (HIP) revealed its proposals last August to develop the land in partnership with leisure entrepreneur David Lloyd after it won a council tendering process.

The next step is expected to be the submission of a planning application setting out full details of the proposed scheme.