New Tram Depot and Museum given green light - Blackpool Discussion Forums

Pete · #1 01-07-09, 12:36

Blackpool council have passed the planning permission to enable the new tram depot and museum to be built at Starr Gate.
This is great news, it was only just passed though. 5 Councilors voted for the new depot and 4 against!
A fair few local residents objected but their objections relied on the new depot reducing the value of their houses, which isnt a legally valid reason.
The depot is due to be in operation by May 2011.

grannyclaret · #2 09-07-09, 13:31

i think its tram sunday next weekend,,

willowthewhisp · #3 09-07-09, 22:21

Why would a tram depot reduce the value of houses? Is it going to be close to those houses?

Pete · #4 09-07-09, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by willowthewhisp

Why would a tram depot reduce the value of houses? Is it going to be close to those houses?

The New depot is going to be at Starr gate (South end of prom where trams turn round now) There is currently a car park and an outdoor Go Kart track in the location.
Basically the people who live opposite in the nice houses that have a sea view will have a modern nice looking building blocking their view so it might well reduce the value of their houses but they didnt complain when the South prom was redeveloped to look so much nicer, I bet that increased the value of their houses!!

While I do understand their frustrations its life, they could have checked their house title deeds to see if there was any covenants or restrictions on any buildings being built as to obstruct their views before they bought the house. I would guess the trams have been turning round there for longer than any of the houses that are affected.

The bottom line is a few (5-10) houses will lose some of their view and will have trams passing by about 30 mins earlier and 2 hrs later each day. But they will be the new quieter trams and the track will be replaced so it will be so much quieter than it use to be.
So you win some you lose some.
We used to hear the trams at home on the old tracks but since they replaced the track from Pleasure Beach to Manchester Square we cant hear them at all.

gazman2k · #5 25-09-09, 19:08

Anyone noticed the project work has started in Star Gate? Now all Trams stop/start at Pleasure Beach.

removalizer · #6 25-09-09, 21:53

Why can't it stay at Rigby Road ? all the engineers for the buses are there, asa fleet engineer myself this would be an economic disaster and I feel sorry for the residents

Pete · #7 26-09-09, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazman2k

Anyone noticed the project work has started in Star Gate? Now all Trams stop/start at Pleasure Beach.

Gazman you are right. Once again the council are being very silly. This is one of the busiest times of year for the trams. The Illuminations start at Starr Gate and now you cant ride a tram and see the entire illuminations. Madness, they should have waited till after switch off.
I bet they are still charging full price for the Illuminations tour even though people are missing over a mile!!!!! Very Poor.

Pete · #8 26-09-09, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by removalizer

Why can't it stay at Rigby Road ? all the engineers for the buses are there, as a fleet engineer myself this would be an economic disaster and I feel sorry for the residents

I think its all part of the 'Master' plan. i.e. The Council want to effectively clear from Central drive all the way to the prom so there is space for a major attraction. Its valuable land whereas the small space at starr gate isnt that valuable as it is only a small space.
To be honest there arent actually that many residents that are effected, it will probably effect more staff!!! I think there are actually 2 benefits to the Starr Gate site. 1. Late night trams will run all the way to Starr Gate not just Rigby Road. 2. Hopefully the space will allow public access to the historic and illuminations trams in the tram museum. Although I do hope the Tram Museum is large enough to do justice to Blackpool's Historic Trams and actually how I believe Blackpool's trams have actually promoted tram use again in the UK.

I have recently been to a few meetings about the regeneration and the council seem to be trying, wherever they can, to create large spaces that they can sell for either housing/ light industry/ attractions. I think this is also why they want to remove South Shore Station and Lytham Road Bridge. This would enable access to the South Shore Car park which the council could then sell off as valuable development space.

grannyclaret · #9 27-09-09, 14:04

i wonder if Pontins would have survived if they had known

Pete · #10 27-09-09, 19:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

i wonder if Pontins would have survived if they had known

From my understanding of Pontins they couldn't survive as the company who owns the land wouldn't give them a long term lease. So Pontins couldn't invest the £100,000,000 that they wanted to. The company who owned the land would only give them 1 or 2 years!!!
I believe that company who own the land is owned by Trevor Hemmings who also owns the Tower, Winter Gardens, Wax Works, Sea Life and the Piers!!!!!!

cherokee · #11 29-09-09, 11:40

I think Starr Gate would be the ideal place for the Tram depot . I doubt it will devalue any properties though