A New Promenade

A New Promenade

14 April 2007

South Promenade has already had a revamp, with new sculptures and layout.

The South Pier now has signs saying "We are Remodelling" but it has been looking decrepit for years - this is what happens when bits of Blackpool belong to large out of town companies.

Once revenue falls because of a bad season they lose interest, they don't spend money on maintenance and things start to look terrible and Blackpool gets a bad image. Hey, but a casino would alter all that yes? ...er... well the Council think so...

Unfortunately their "good" ideas aren't always so good.

We used to have this superb large scale relica of Thunderbird 3. Kids of all ages recognised it and were thrilled by it.

However someone in dire need of a lobotomy decided it would be a good idea to paint it with Picasso's "Guernica". A great improvement don't you think? No... neither do I...

Mixing two design classics together doesn't always lead to an improvement - cross a chicken with a waitress and you will not get a hen that can lay tables...

I'm afraid it's put me in a cynical mood. You can't help but be impressed with the scale of the project to improve the sea defences and widen the Promenade. But given that Blackpool's Promenade was perhaps the greatest slab of concrete in the country already and had been getting less and less crowded over the past few years, did it need to be made any bigger?

It's what will be put on it that will make or break it.

The kiosks on the Promenade near the town centre were only allowed to sell "quality products".

i.e. the sort of things that people went into town to buy, not to a kiosk on the Prom.

I'll show the new Prom when done. I hope I can rave not rant!