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Blackpool has been a family favourite for many years now, although recently its’ public image hasn’t been so good.

When they think of Blackpool, many people think of boarded up shops, an old fashioned pier and lager louts littering every street.

However, the seaside town has just received a £200,000 as part of plans to give the country’s seaside resorts a makeover.

I’m sure the money will be well spent, and Blackpool will look a damn sight better for it, but there’s not much you can do to deter yobbos from roaming the streets, which is one of the major reasons why people avoid the place altogether!!

Plans to forge ahead with new retail parks in Northern Ireland have come up against criticism, as more and more town centre stores are having to close down.

Better Deals supermarket in Strabane have been the latest victims, and the closure of the store means that around 100 jobs will be cut- another massive blow in such a fragile economic environment.

Supermarket giant Tescos recently came up against opposition when they tried to open a new store on the outskirts of a near by town, and many people are hoping that councils are finally starting to realise just how much town centre stores are suffering because of these new retail developments.

They can only hope…

Regeneration is a term that is bandied about often these days, and most people understand it to be the process of giving a specific area something of a facelift.

Regeneration has many benefits- not only can it make an area look more attractive, it can also help to boost trade in an area.

A boost in trade is then likely to lead to a boost in employment- which is essential in the current economic climate.

Through regeneration, an area can really revamp its image and give itself a whole new lease of life. Liverpool One is a fantastic example of this- and it’s little wonder that it wins so many awards.

An area of Lancashire town Leigh is set to undergo major regeneration. The Plank Lane area has been pencilled in for a £750,000 uplift, which will give the town a much needed boost.

Wigan Council will help to regenerate the area by investing in housing improvements, giving walls in the area a facelift and resurfacing walkways.

The move comes in an attempt to halt the downfall in conditions in the area, and bring it up to date with surrounding towns.

Plans for the regeneration are set to begin next month, and will be on-going throughout the coming months.

The facelift will no doubt be another massive step in improving the reputation of Leigh.

Liverpool One has just bagged itself another award, this time taking home the British Urban Regeneration Association Best Practise prize.
Liverpool One, which cost a whopping £1 billion pounds to create, has now won a grand total of 45 awards.

The development, which opened in spring 2008, has been a key factor in helping to cement Liverpool’s reputation as a modern city- something that their City of Culture status, also in 2008, helped to create.

Although I haven’t yet visited Liverpool One myself, it looks as though it is definitely worth a visit, and draws in hoards week after week.
The centre is now firmly on my ‘must visit’ list!