TEMPERS ran high at a meeting in St Annes Town Hall yesterday (January 10) as residents and Fylde Borough Council officers discussed new plans to expand the Pleasure Island complex on the Promenade.

Some residents were strongly against the plans at the meeting -- attended by director of planning at Fylde Borough Council, Nigel Hill, and area planning officer David Shepherd -- saying they feel it would spoil the Victorian feel of the area.

This comes as Fylde scoops the very first Heritage Lottery Grant in the Borough of £49,100 to restore St Annes Promenade to its Victorian splendour, complete with cast iron benches and the restoring of the cast iron water fountain and drinking fountain.

Some residents were so vocal in their protest at the meeting that Nigel Hill had to ask for calm or the meeting would be closed.

The Promenade plans include proposals for a market selling farming goods 12 days per year and a children's ride -- in the style of the Ice Blast ride (formerly the Playstation) at the Pleasure Beach -- which would stand 7.5 meters tall.

But many of the residents who attended the meeting expressed concern, saying the redevelopment plans were neither wanted nor needed in the area.

Retired St Annes resident Roland Jones, who lives almost directly opposite the leisure complex, handed to Nigel Hill a petition of 1,400 signatures asking the council not to consider the application.

Local hotelier Ian Taylor also spoke of the "Ice Blast" style ride saying: "Just up the road is the best amusement park in the whole of the country, so families would probably go there instead."

Simon Kularatne, deputy director of tourism and leisure at Fylde Borough, said: "I did not attend the meeting but am aware of the situation. We can't freeze everything and must move with the times. The area in question for development by Mr Taylor is not highly maintained and the council has approved his plans for a pitch and putt on that area. We feel it will attract more people and while some residents may not like it, we have to take into account the views of the whole population."

Residents have until the beginning of February to write to the council with any objections they may have.