BLACKPOOL Council and businesses will be flying the flag to make the Labour Party especially welcome this autumn.

For the Labour-led council is determined the party will want to bring back its annual conference in the new millennium.

Labour pulled its 2000 conference out of the resort amid huge controversy earlier this year, saying Brighton had put in a better bid and the First Leisure-owned Winter Gardens were inadequate.

Nevertheless Blackpool Council leader Ivan Taylor will be bearing no grudges: "We're going to go out of our way to make them welcome," he said.

"We're hoping to put banners up in the streets and fly the Labour flag from the Tower and generally make sure there's a welcoming ambience.

"These things don't cost a lot of money but they should make the delegates feel that Blackpool's made a special effort to welcome them."

The council has set aside £22,250 - around its usual level - for hospitality, press offices and a creche. The conference brings 12,000 delegates, media and visitors to the resort.

"We'd do the same for any conference of this size," said Coun Taylor, "and we are making special efforts to welcome other events throughout the year."

Security and policing costs will reach £2.5m this year, largely paid for by Lancashire Police Authority, which receives heavy subsidy from the Home Office.

Labour's hotel HQ will be switched from the traditional Imperial to the Stakis, further down North Promenade, for the first time this year.

Conference organisers said the Stakis offered a better deal, financially and in terms of facilities.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.