It was a ballsy offence by Blackpool Pier Company as they look to overturn a council decision to reject two new rides on South Pier. “Disingenuous” was the kindest description it could offer to the Public Inquiry on the Council’s decision to reject its application.
There’s something very Judas Priest going on at the spikey Public Inquiry into the battle to add two new rides at Blackpool South Pier – and that’s Judas Priest as in Bob Dylan’s perspective of deception rather than the British heavy metal band.
And the first week of the Inquiry heard compelling testimony of, well, let’s say, inconsistencies that led to the South Pier losing its appeal to place two new rides.
Local media have been following the story with gusto with Blackpool Business News throwing its weight behind the Blackpool Pier Company.
The public inquiry into the refusal began last week, with the Planning Inspectorate due to rule on the legitimacy of the local authority’s verdict this autumn.
“The Blackpool Pier Company is aggressively appealing Blackpool Council’s repeated refusal to grant planning permission for a massive new Log Flume and a towering Starflyer ride on either side of the South Pier headland,” reported Blackpool Business News.
“Pier bosses argue that the multi-million-pound attractions are desperately required to stimulate modern tourism footfall. Crucially, they state that the ongoing commercial revenue generated by these new white-knuckle rides is 100 percent vital to fund the endless, multi-million-pound structural repairs and timber maintenance required across all three of Blackpool’s historic piers.”
The local journal added: “In an explosive statement to the Planning Inspectorate, the pier company slammed the council as ‘disingenuous,’ pointing out that the local authority readily grants itself temporary permission for massive holiday rides at the annual Christmas by the Sea village near North Pier, but blocks private family operators from doing the exact same thing.”
Originally published on Coinslot on July 20, 2026. Republished with permission.