Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde News

The Trust which runs Blackpool Victoria Hospital has apologised to patients after it was highlighted that it was performing worse than any other in the country for 12 hour waits in hospital.

More than 30 Fylde residents have moved into work thanks to a successful partnership which has helped create training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Pride in Place cash will be spent on repairs to allow the reopening of Blackpool’s Tramtown museum.

Sixteen residential roads in Blackpool are set to get resurfaced over the next eight weeks, as Blackpool Council starts a huge investment in additional road maintenance.

Blackpool’s Brian House Children’s Hospice has announced the cancellation of this year’s Bubble Rush event.

Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s performance in terms of 12-hour waits is currently the worst in the country, according to a latest report.

Video

Several business owners have been left heartbroken after a major fire tore through a commercial building on Waterloo Road in Blackpool’s South Shore.

One of Blackpool’s most iconic venues is set for an exciting new chapter after plans were agreed to transfer its operation to Blackpool Council’s wholly owned tourism company.

A free business support programme in Fylde is helping local entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful businesses. 

Blackpool is continuing to face homelessness levels more than twice the national average, according to a new council report. 

Wyre Council is preparing to launch a new weekly food waste collection service for all households from the middle of April.

A Poulton-le-Fylde man has been handed a five year prison sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

This summer's walkabout theatre show in Williamson Park in Lancaster has been exclusively announced on Central Radio.

Residents worried over plans to demolish homes in Blackpool’s Revoe area as part of a controversial regeneration plan have been offered help by a national community union group.

New padel courts have been proposed for Blackpool Sports Centre.

Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after the rider of an e-bike suffered serious injuries in a collision in Fleetwood.

For 100 years, Stanley Park has played a central role in Blackpool, providing residents and visitors with a landmark green space that combines heritage, recreation and natural beauty. 

Blackpool’s £350m Talbot Gateway has taken another step towards full occupancy, with 300 workers relocating to the heart of the town centre.

Eight people have been charged as part of an investigation into the illegal supply of cocaine and ketamine in Blackpool.

Visitor attraction Blackpool Tramtown has been forced to close until further notice due to an issue with an electric cable.

Plans to demolish the houses on Henry Street as part of a major sports-themed regeneration project in Blackpool have taken another step forward, after a three year delay.

Blackpool Council needs to find £16m in savings during the next year as it prepares for the imminent budget for 2026/27.

The operators of Guy’s Thatched Hamlet have announced they have ceased trading after 46 years.

People are advised to avoid eating domestically produced eggs or egg-laying poultry from within 1km of an industrial site in Thornton.

Councillors have paid tribute to the work of Blackpool’s Director of Adult Social Services following her retirement from the role.

A leading figure in Blackpool’s transport sector has announced that she’s set to retire later this year after a successful career in trains, trams and buses.

A man who was seriously injured in a collision on the A585 in Poulton-le-Fylde earlier this month has died.

A piano and theatre teacher from Poulton-le-Fylde who engaged in sexual communication with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed.

Volunteers from across Lancashire will gather on St Annes beach next month to plant thousands of donated Christmas trees as part of vital work to protect coastal communities from flooding.

Fleetwood Neighbourhood Policing Team have secured a closure order for an address in the town.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb says he has secured a meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss long-term investment and regeneration in South Shore – one of the most deprived areas in the country.

Blackpool is exploring the possibility of bidding for the UK City of Culture 2029 and UK Town of Culture 2028.

The countdown is on for the return of the Fylde Ice Festival to Lytham.

A new non-profit company has been set up with the aims of developing the former Fleetwood Pier site into a vibrant attraction and reviving the town itself.

Three Lancashire councils have been granted significantly more time to start dedicated household food waste collections – while two others have been unable to confirm whether they will meet the deadline for doing so.

The Leader of Blackpool Council said people who took part in an anti-immigration march at the weekend were not reflective of the many people who live, work and visit the town.

A family festival is being staged in Bispham aimed at bringing members of the community together.

Residents in Blackpool’s Revoe area are to have their say about plans to demolish hundreds of homes in a controversial £90m regeneration scheme.

Over the past week further demolition work has taken place in Blackpool as streets are being flattened to make way for the landmark £65 million Multiversity campus.

Blackpool ended their three-match losing streak with a convincing two-nil victory over Northampton Town.

A new health facility is to open in Blackpool offering vital dialysis treatment to renal patients in a more accessible location.

There’s some good news for the coastal protection of Anchorsholme – but not such good news for a group of residents in nearby Little Bispham.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a man sadly died in a collision in Forton.

A Blackpool man has been found guilty of a string of sexual offences after being caught in a undercover operation three times.

A £9.3 million transformation looks set to be approved to completely modernise St Annes Swimming Pool and get Kirkham Baths reopened.

Works to remodel the junction of School Road and Common Edge Road are nearing completion.

Blackpool is set to get its first pet crematorium under new plans for Carleton cemetery.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb says worried constituents have been contacting him with concerns over the future of the visitor centre which houses the town’s much-loved heritage trams.

Train operator Avanti West Coast has made a new bid to bring back an extra weekday London service for Blackpool after controversial cuts to the operation.

A Blackpool firm has been named as the North West’s second fastest-growing technology company, according to a new list – and among the top 100 in the UK.

Three men have been seriously injured in a collision between a taxi and a van on the A585 bypass near Windy Harbour in Poulton-le-Fylde.

A teenager has admitted making a hoax call which led to a large scale emergency response in Blackpool, involving police, HM Coastguard, the fire service and ambulance service.

The true scale of the forthcoming new multi-million pound Ministry of Defence (MOD) office building in Blackpool can now be seen as the building takes shape.

The future of Blackpool’s Tramtown attraction – home to the town’s world-famous heritage trams – is at serious risk, says a leading councillor.

The operators of Blackpool’s Holiday Inn ended the arrangements with Marco Pierre White’s restaurant brand because of “restrictions” with the deal, it has emerged.

Plans are being made to introduce a much improved yet sympathetic reseating of the top gallery tier at Grade II-listed Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Residents in Fylde are backing calls to end ongoing problems at Lytham Tip.

A substantial housing development of more than 100 homes is being proposed for a site in Blackpool.

With construction set to begin in the coming months, residents and businesses have their final opportunity to influence two projects that will reinvent how people experience St Annes town centre.

Councillors have vowed that play equipment destroyed in a senseless arson attack in a Fylde coast park will be rebuilt as quickly as possible.

Marco-Pierre White’s prestigiously-branded restaurant is pulling out of Blackpool.

A couple in Blackpool previously jailed for child cruelty allowed a man who turned out to be a convicted sex offender to babysit two of their children, a review has found.

A well-known Fleetwood GP is to chair a £20m community project to help regenerate the town.

DWP bosses have issued a statement after falling debris from Blackpool’s new £100m civil service office led to a dramatic evacuation.

People across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre are being encouraged to kick-start the new year with a boost to their wellbeing as its parkrun and junior parkrun events invite everyone to join in the fun this weekend, and to bring a friend.

Multi-million pound plans to build a seven-storey block of luxury apartments on Blackpool seafront are anticipated to finally see fruition in 2027.

Plans have been lodged to build 102 affordable homes on land bordering Poulton and Blackpool.

A free wellbeing and fun day on the Fylde coast is proving so popular it’s now become a much-anticipated annual event.

A new campaign has been launched to encourage residents to make a difference in Blackpool by consider fostering.

Plans to build a new large scale M&S food store at Norcross have been given the official green light after a final agreement was reached with developers.

Proposals to turn one of the Fylde coast’s most distinctive buildings into a unique house are still in the pipeline for 2026.

A month-long campaign has been launched to help people in Lancashire be better prepared for freezing weather, flooding and power cuts.

People from Lancashire have been recognised in the King's New Year's Honours List for their work across the county.

A public survey has been launched to ask Lancashire residents for their views on the money they pay towards policing.

A man has been arrested after a police drugs raid in Fleetwood.

Lancashire residents can have their names displayed on a North West Air Ambulance helicopter this Christmas as part of a pioneering scheme.

Police in Lancashire have received four new electric bikes to help with patrols across the community.

Blackpool Council’s Director of Adult Social Services has announced she will step down from the post at the end of this year.

The latest proposals for two rides to operate either side of Blackpool’s South Pier have been refused again.

Families across Fylde can look forward to another unforgettable weekend of wonder as the award-winning St Annes International Kite Festival returns.

A drunk-driver who crashed his car into a wall in Blackpool on Christmas Day, seriously injuring five passengers, has been jailed.

A criminal network supplying drugs across Lancashire and beyond have been jailed for a total of more than 100 years following a major operation by Lancashire’s Serious and Organised Crime team.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a pedestrian died following a collision with a bin lorry in Freckleton.

Fylde Council has selected its preferred operator for St Annes swimming pool.

Ambitious proposals to bring one of Poulton’s grandest buildings back into use have got the go ahead.

Blackpool Council is urging eligible residents to get protected this winter, with free flu vaccinations available, for those eligible, at walk-in clinics across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast. 

Train operator Avanti West Coast has confirmed it is reducing its four daily weekday services to and from Blackpool to two a day from next week.

Cleveleys is to get a big new illuminated ‘welcome’ sign to greet people coming into the town centre.

A man has been jailed after a six year old girl was fatally struck by a flat-bed truck as she stepped off a bus in Bilsborrow.

Up to 150 people who face being alone on Christmas Day are to be treated to a festive roast dinner – thanks to a big-hearted family and kindly volunteers.

Fylde Council has taken a step towards the revival of Kirkham Baths, approving £150,000 of essential works to safeguard the building and prepare it for reinstatement.

A former French polishers and upholstery business in Carleton could become a new microbar if the scheme gets the go ahead.

Blackpool is doing its bit to support a charity which helps bereaved people – culminating in the iconic Tower turning orange next week.

The firm that operated a highly controversial fracking site in Fylde has been told that it cannot have another two years to restore the plot – after it emerged it had not made proper use of a previous extension.

Plans are in the pipeline to bring a disused former bank in Kirkham back into use.

A housing scheme which would have seen more than 200 homes built in Poulton has been refused by planners.

Lancashire Police are urging motorists not to drink or drug drive throughout the festive season.

Moor Park Primary School is considering ambitions plans to extend its SEND provision and has launched a consultation with a range of groups about the proposals.

Parkwood Leisure has been named as the new operator for Wyre’s leisure centres in Fleetwood, Garstang, Poulton and Thornton, replacing YMCA Fylde Coast from April.

Blackpool’s premium cinema scene is entering a thrilling new era with the launch of The Arc Cinema at the former Backlot Cinema site.

The first deliveries of new bins for Blackpool – including brown ones- have arrived as part of the shake-up of waste collections coming in next year.

Blackpool Council has formally confirmed its proposals to merge with Preston to form a new council.

Wyre Council is inviting residents, businesses, and visitors to share their views on exciting plans to rejuvenate Fleetwood’s waterfront.

A man from Merseyside has been jailed after he repeatedly stamped on a gull, killing the animal.

MP Lorraine Beavers has made a renewed call for the restoration of Fleetwood’s rail link.

Campaigners striving to keep the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry have welcomed reports that funding has now been secured until 2029.

International multi-award-winning superstar Michael Bublé is heading to the Lytham Festival in 2026.

An online plea has meant an elderly couple can enjoy one last visit to Blackpool’s famous Tower Ballroom where they used to go dancing.

The driver an £100k supercar which was engulfed in a fireball after crashing into a house in St Annes has been jailed.

Proposals to demolish two hotels and replace them with 51 modern apartments on Blackpool’s South Shore promenade have finally been approved by planners.

Protesters against a stinking landfill site say the waste deposits are getting steadily higher and have called on the site to be either suspended or closed for good.

A man who drove a van at a group of people in Poulton-le-Fylde, causing life changing injuries to one man, has been jailed.

Visitors to Fairhaven Lake can look forward to a new visitor centre after Fylde Council approved plans to transform the iconic Pagoda building.

Residents with FY postcodes can now enjoy unbeatable savings at some of Blackpool’s most iconic attractions, thanks to a new initiative from Blackpool Tourism Limited.

Two people have admitted to kidnapping a baby in Blackpool.

Works to create a new road from Common Edge Road to Blackpool Enterprise Zone on Amy Johnson Way are moving to the next phase.

Blackpool is preparing to launch a magnificent programme of Christmas entertainment – with a sprinkling of Strictly stardust.

Calls have been made for a world-class arena to be built on the Blackpool Central site, which has been earmarked for multi-million pound regeneration projects.

The critically acclaimed show Something About George, a powerful celebration of the life and music of George Harrison, arrives at the Blackpool Grand Theatre this Sunday for one night only – bringing audiences an uplifting, emotional and musically rich journey through the legacy of the “quiet Beatle”.

Blackpool’s ambitious £65m Multiversity scheme is pressing ahead as planned – but the council is looking to ensure there are no potential hold-ups to slow the project down.

Blackpool Council is looking into alternative models of residential care for children in the face of the “unsustainable” £21 million a year costs of private care provision.

Plans have been submitted to transform two empty units in Poulton’s Teanlowe Centre into a banking hub.

A man has been charged following a serious collision in Broughton last month.

Wyre Council has announced the successful completion of the revitalisation of the Young People’s Place on Windsor Road, Garstang.

Blackpool Council’s services for children are continuing to improve, a new Ofsted report says.

Proposals for a temporary ice rink at Lytham have hit a setback – despite being given the go ahead by local planners.

Blackpool Council is taking the next major step in delivering a first data centre as part of plans for Silicon Sands, a flagship digital infrastructure project at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

A popular festive food and craft event which is staged annually on the Fylde coast will not be taking place this year.

The multi-million pound regeneration of a much-loved Art Deco pub in Blackpool has seen a large part of the structure being demolished.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a child was left seriously injured following a road traffic collision in Blackpool.

Blackpool is getting a £6.85m upgrade to street lighting in a bid to cut carbon emissions and electricity costs. 

A bogus builder from Blackpool who conned his victims out of thousands of pounds has been jailed.

Police have charged three teenagers with attempted murder following an incident in Blackpool which left a man with serious stab injuries.

Some of Blackpool’s newest Illuminations have been rubbished by a leading councillor – prompting a rousing defence of them by the council leader.

Four more people have been arrested as detectives continue to investigate a wounding in Blackpool which left a man with serious stab injuries.

Police are appealing for information after a collision in the Broughton area left a man with serious injuries.

From April 2026, all councils in England are to introduce weekly food waste collections as part of the UK Government’s Simpler Recycling initiative, designed to make recycling more consistent and effective across the country.

Police have launched an investigation after a man was stabbed in Blackpool.

Fylde's employment support programmes are transforming lives at pace, with 118 residents achieving positive outcomes including 21 people securing jobs, 63 gaining qualifications, and 34 entering education or training between July and September.

A special ceremony will take place at the world-famous Blackpool Tower Circus to celebrate the unveiling of a Blue Heritage Plaque honouring one of Britain’s most beloved circus performers, Charlie Cairoli.

Potential buyers are in discussions over the sale of Blackpool’s iconic North Pier, one of the town’s top attractions.

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is returning for 2025.

People who regularly use buses run by Blackpool Transport are being urged to have their say on how the services can be improved.

Proposals for 38 new homes in Over Wyre have been submitted to planners as part of a major outline planning application.

Ambitious proposals for a new multi-million pound Fisherman’s Friend factory in Fleetwood are still going through the planning process – despite the scheme being given approval two years ago.

Lytham will be transformed into a glittering winter wonderland again next year, as the Fylde Ice Festival returns to the town for its fourth year in 2026.

The M55 motorway between Blackpool and Preston has reopened this morning following an overnight closure caused by a serious road traffic collision.

More than 4,700 nominations have been submitted to recognise the people, groups and businesses making a difference across the Fylde Coast, as anticipation builds ahead of the awards night.

A huge illuminated drone display over Stanley Park caught many people out this week as they were driving past.

Blackpool looks set to get a new bowling alley as details of new leisure plans at the former Odeon Cinema have been revealed for the first time.

Controversial plans to develop a quarry in a quiet Over Wyre village have been thrown out today – prompting spontaneous applause in a council chamber.

One of Blackpool’s most distinctive festivals has been extended – bringing some extra colour and brightness to the dark nights of autumn.

Ambitious plans to build a sizable food store at Norcross may have been approved – but planners have stipulated the application was not specific to M&S.

Amir Morani Fireworks, a pyrotechnics team from India, have been crowned the first champions of Blackpool’s annual World Fireworks competition.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a fatal collision in Kirkham over the weekend.

Blackpool has been selected to join the inaugural class of a new European city leadership initiative – and the move is expected to benefit the town in key ways.

Show homes are now open for inspection at a new housing development in Thornton – but a ward councillor says a chance has been missed to preserve a precious archaeological site on the land.

A man has been jailed for assaulting staff while a patient at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

A woman has been jailed after attempting to abduct a baby girl in Blackpool.

There will be an enhanced tram timetable to help visitors during the final performance in the World Fireworks Championships 2025, says Blackpool Transport.

A call has been made for the removal of Rolf Harris’ name from Blackpool’s famous Comedy Carpet because of the late entertainer’s conviction for sexual offences.

A further phase of soil sampling is underway in Thornton-Cleveleys as part of an ongoing inspection related to historic activity at a nearby chemical facility.

Voting is now open for the Fylde Coast Community Awards, giving residents across the area the chance to recognise and celebrate the people, businesses and organisations making a real difference in local life.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a collision involving a police vehicle and a car in Fleetwood on Tuesday.

The most successful duo in UK music history, Pet Shop Boys, are heading Lytham Festival 2026.

Blackpool Football Club say they’re ‘appalled’ that a racist message was received by one of their players via social media.

Blackpool’s N-Vision sight loss charity has announced a range of new services for Lancashire.

Fylde Council is calling for government support to protect local housing for its residents.

GRAMMY nominated musician Teddy Swims has been announced as the first 2026 Lytham Festival headliner.

Work to renovate an iconic Blackpool town centre building has completed, as it prepares for a new future as a hub for growing local businesses.

Residents and visitors can follow a journey of discovery as Fylde Council’s Head of Tourism, Tim Dixon, sets off on a three-day, 40-mile adventure walking the district border of Fylde in aid of the Mayoral charities.

In preparation for the Government’s new Simpler Recycling legislation, Blackpool is set to trial a new waste collection system designed to make recycling easier and more accessible for residents.

VisitBlackpool, organisers of World Fireworks Championship Blackpool, have confirmed a new date for the cancelled show from Team India, which was due to take place on Saturday 13 September. 

Wyre Council are looking for a new operator for the leisure centres in Garstang, Fleetwood, Poulton, and Thornton.

Blackpool Council has used grant funding to purchase the former post office, a key development site in the town centre, to secure and safeguard its future. 

A senior hospital consultant has been jailed for six years after abusing his position to sexually assault female members of staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

The progress of one of Blackpool’s biggest regeneration projects has been discussed this week as the next steps forward are considered.

A former world champion boxer from the Fylde coast has paid tribute to close pal Ricky Hatton after his sudden unexpected death aged just 46.

A man has died after a tree branch fell on his tent in a park in Blackpool.

A businessman who was thwarted in his plans to transform a Grade II listed radar station into a unique house in Fleetwood says he is not giving up on his dream.

It was once Fleetwood’s cherished M&S store and then during a dark period became its biggest eyesore, before making a welcome comeback.

A new office for Department of Work and Pensions in Blackpool has been named as the best new building in Lancashire.

Hometown hero Ross Goodwin, better known as Rossy Rascal, will bring his trademark chaos, charisma, and championship spirit to the Winter Gardens this September in an unmissable Top Rope Wrestling showdown.

Proposed changes intended to fix a problem roundabout described as ‘dangerous’ will not alleviate the key issues, says a road campaigner.

A proposed windfarm project would see underground cables laid through parts of Wyre – including environmentally sensitive parts of Fleetwood and Thornton – if plans progress.

The first round of work is under way to transform one of Blackpool’s most iconic pubs as part of a multi-million pound project.

The Environment Agency says it is investigating a ‘small liquid discharge’ close to the River Wyre from a controversial landfill site in Fleetwood.

Two novel attractions new to Blackpool are being proposed for a seafront site close to the town’s famous South Pier.

It’s all set for Fleetwood Colour Run, a fun-packed family event on the beach which takes place this weekend.

New proposals for two rides to operate either side of Blackpool’s famous South Pier have been thrown out by planners.

An organised crime group have been jailed after importing drugs from the USA to be supplied in Blackpool.

Fylde Council has agreed a contract extension with the YMCA to operate St Annes Swimming Pool until the end of March next year.

An attempt to transform a Grade II listed radar station into a unique house with remarkable views over a beach has been thrown out by planners.

Marks & Spencer has responded to rumours that the chain is to close its Blackpool town centre store.

Poulton could get another new housing development – comprising more than 200 homes – if plans are approved.

Blackpool is set to light up the skies once again as it launches a thrilling new chapter in its firework championships.

Friends and family have got together to pay glowing tribute to a much loved midwife who tragically died aged just 37.

Lancashire residents, businesses and community groups are being invited to have their say on the biggest council shake-up in the county for more than 50 years.

Pop superstar Olly Murs is set to light up Blackpool tonight as the headline performer for the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On event.