TURN off the conferences not the lights -- is the bold message that Blackpool 1st Alliance will be taking to council later this month, in a bid to keep Blackpool's Illuminations shining through to Christmas.
Chairman of the Alliance Ken Coups is calling for this radical review of Blackpool's biggest crowd puller before next years switch on.
He explained: "There has been wide spread support for my suggestion that the lights should run from the beginning of November through to the Christmas holiday.
"I believe now that the tragic events in the USA mean that an even more drastic overhaul is called for.
"For example, why on earth does the Council persist with the fiction that the two major party political conferences are a benefit to Blackpool. Any plus from the publicity they generate is dwarfed by the cost and inconvenience to the town's businesses from the security measures which the police have to enforce."
Mr Coups claims that the cost to Blackpool council tax payers of policing both conferences was several hundred thousand pounds, even after the contribution from central government. He said: "If that sum was spent instead on the Illuminations the Council could provide a display which once again would be a world beating attraction."
When council leader Roy Fisher heard these claims he disagreed and argued that: "The conferences bring a lot of business to the town and I'm sure many hotel and guest house owners would agree with this and wouldn't wish to see them abolished.
"Also most of the policing costs for the conferences is paid by Lancashire Constabulary. We do pay some of the costs but it is no where near as much as Mr Coups is indicating."
Mr Coups is basing much of his argument for keeping the Lights on around the record breaking weeks which many of the town's businesses enjoyed in October.
He added: "If the Council is really serious about regenerating the town's tourism the ambition has to be for Blackpool to be booming like that all year round.
"Continuing to host the party conferences would wreck that ambition. As hotels and businesses in the town centre know only too well, the disruption caused by the security precautions doesn't occur just in conference week."
Illuminations manager Richard Ryan was interested to hear Mr Coups opinion and said he would be glad to discuss this matter -- providing Blackpool 1st Alliance could provide evidence that it would be the best way forward for the town.
Mr Ryan commented: "There are significant problems related to leaving the Lights up until Christmas the main one being the storm and wind damage that could occur in those months and the costs that would follow. There is also the cost of marketing and advertising the new Illumination times and how we would communicate this to everyone.
"My personal view is that it should go to council and be discussed properly with factual back up being taken into consideration. If it does turn out to be a better option for the resort then that is fine."
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