Blackpool: Trying its level best

Blackpool’s motto declares “Progress” and there are signs of that all around. Since 2018, more than £350m has been invested in the famous Lancashire seaside town, including £100m of government cash.

It is clear regeneration is taking place; new buildings are coming out of the ground, there is investment in infrastructure and jobs are being created. It has an Enterprise Zone. Blackpool is already on a levelling up mission.

However, if anything highlights the enormity of the national levelling up challenge, it is Blackpool.

In the Bloomfield ward, not far from the famous Golden Mile, 23.7 per cent of people are out of work due to sickness, compared to 6.7 per cent nationally.