BLACKPOOL

OWNER, ON

Gardens and Blackpool Tower have been brought back under council control and refurbished, and the council is working with theme park operator Merlin to improve their overall tourism offering.

Hotels have opened and more are in the pipeline, including a 700-room fivestar hotel, while others have had a facelift. Other plans include an IMAX cinema and extension to the shopping centre.

Cllr Graham Cain, Cabinet Secretary for Blackpool Council, said: “The last seven years have seen significant change in the resort, from a re-presented seafront and public transport to fantastic new world-class attractions.

“We are on a journey to deliver the UK’S premier resort destination.”

Blackpool Zoo has opened a £5million elephant enclosure and is already on for a record-breaking summer. Walking down the prom with my daughter Lola,

SHOP THE CHANGES

12, Blackpool is much more appealing than I remember it from the 1980s.

The Jones family make a day trip from Birmingham every year. Dad John, 38, says: “The kids love coming here, there is so much to do. And the promenade has definitely been improved.” But Blackpool hasn’t lost any of its kitsch charm. You can still buy Kiss Me Quick hats and sticks of rock and arcades with penny slot machines are doing a brisk trade.

Horse and carriages line up along the Golden Mile and trams still ferry people in the shadow of the illuminations.

Andy Reynolds, 48, has run a novelty shop on the prom for the past two years. He says: “We have been busy, the h wave certainly helped. You don’t se many stags and hens now, more gro of friends, families in the school holid and couples. We can’t complain.”

This is the North West so rai almost guaranteed, but it doe dampen Blackpool’s spirits as there

ON FAMILY’S ANNUAL TRIP

Amanda recalls donkey rides on the beach Home to a circus and ballroom dancing Sticks of Blackpool rock can still be bought Lola, 12, and our Amanda

CLASSIC Resort’s famous trams

VISIT Turner family come yearly